Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cape Coral, FL
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Cape Coral leads 11 of 20 categories
Cape Coral
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,474 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,912 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cape Coral, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 36°F
Households earn $10,055 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,630/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Springfield
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($147,700 vs $302,400)
Rent averages $717/mo less ($913 vs $1,630)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Cape Coral
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Cape Coral by $10,055/yr
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cape Coral
Median Income
$10,055
$72,474 vs $62,419/yr
Cape Coral
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Cape Coral
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.6°F vs 85.5°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 104.9 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$155k less
$147,700 vs $302,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cape Coral, FL | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.9⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $302,400 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,630⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,474 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.6% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.0°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.4" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,912 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 48.2 ✓ Older | 40.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.4% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 24.7% ✓ More | 18.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cape Coral's cost of living index is 104.9 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Cape Coral leads 11 of 20 categories. Cape Coral wins 11 and Springfield wins 9. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($302,400 vs $147,700 median home), income ($72,474 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cape Coral, FL and Springfield, IL are about 1,009 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.