Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cape Coral, FL
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Cape Coral leads 12 of 19 categories
Cape Coral
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,474
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,912 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cape Coral, FL
Pros
Homes cost $359k less ($302,400 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $394/mo less ($1,630 vs $2,024)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 60°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $20,130/yr
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,130 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cape Coral
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 104.9 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Cape Coral
Median Home Value
$359k less
$302,400 vs $661,700
Cape Coral
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Cape Coral
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.6°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$20,130
$92,604 vs $72,474/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cape Coral, FL | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $302,400 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,630⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,474 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 63 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.6% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.0°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.4" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,912 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 48.2 ✓ Older | 40.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.4% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 24.7% ✓ More | 18.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cape Coral's cost of living index is 104.9 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Cape Coral is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Cape Coral leads 12 of 19 categories. Cape Coral wins 12 and Santa Rosa wins 7. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Cape Coral to Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($302,400 vs $661,700 median home), income ($72,474 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cape Coral, FL and Santa Rosa, CA are about 2,484 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.