Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cape Coral, FL
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Cape Coral
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,474
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,912
Seattle
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cape Coral, FL
Pros
Homes cost $578k less ($302,400 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $315/mo less ($1,630 vs $1,945)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 47°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $43,594/yr
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $43,594 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cape Coral
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Cape Coral
Median Home Value
$578k less
$302,400 vs $879,900
Cape Coral
Summer Heat
15.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.6°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$43,594
$116,068 vs $72,474/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cape Coral, FL | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $302,400 ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,630⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,474 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.6% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.4" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,912 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 48.2 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.4% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 24.7% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cape Coral's cost of living index is 104.9 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Cape Coral is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Cape Coral wins 10 and Seattle wins 10. 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($302,400 vs $879,900 median home), income ($72,474 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cape Coral, FL and Seattle, WA are about 2,610 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.