Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cape Coral, FL
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Cape Coral leads 11 of 19 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 ✓ Larger
Torrance
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82
Population
145,454
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cape Coral, FL
Pros
Homes cost $660k less ($302,400 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $502/mo less ($1,630 vs $2,132)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.4%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 67°F
Smaller class sizes — 20.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $37,080/yr
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,080 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2775.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Cape Coral
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Cape Coral
Median Home Value
$660k less
$302,400 vs $962,300
Cape Coral
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
Cape Coral
Summer Heat
16.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.6°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$37,080
$109,554 vs $72,474/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cape Coral, FL | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $302,400 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,630⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,474 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 82 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.6% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.0°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.6°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.4" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,912 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 48.2 ✓ Older | 42.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.4% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 24.7% ✓ More | 17.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cape Coral's cost of living index is 104.9 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Cape Coral is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Cape Coral leads 11 of 19 categories. Cape Coral wins 11 and Torrance wins 8. 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 Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($302,400 vs $962,300 median home), income ($72,474 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cape Coral, FL and Torrance, CA are about 2,215 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.