Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cape Coral, FL
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Cape Coral leads 11 of 20 categories
Cape Coral
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,474
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,912
Tacoma
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cape Coral, FL
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($302,400 vs $415,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 48°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,630/mo
Median income trails Tacoma by $6,611/yr
Tacoma, WA
Pros
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
Rent averages $141/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,630)
Households earn $6,611 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
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
$113k less
$302,400 vs $415,300
Cape Coral
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Cape Coral
Summer Heat
14.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.6°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$6,611
$79,085 vs $72,474/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cape Coral, FL | Tacoma, 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 | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,630⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,474 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.6% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.4" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,912 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 48.2 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.4% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 24.7% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cape Coral's cost of living index is 104.9 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Cape Coral is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Cape Coral leads 11 of 20 categories. Cape Coral wins 11 and Tacoma 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($302,400 vs $415,300 median home), income ($72,474 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cape Coral, FL and Tacoma, WA are about 2,607 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.