Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cape Coral, FL
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Cape Coral leads 13 of 19 categories
Cape Coral
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,474
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,912 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cape Coral, FL
Pros
Homes cost $258k less ($302,400 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $511/mo less ($1,630 vs $2,141)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 58°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $34,290/yr
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,290 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Cape Coral
Key Differences at a Glance
Cape Coral
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 104.9 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Cape Coral
Median Home Value
$258k less
$302,400 vs $560,400
Cape Coral
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Vacaville
Median Income
$34,290
$106,764 vs $72,474/yr
Vacaville
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 91.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cape Coral, FL | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $302,400 ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,630⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,474 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.6% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 91.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.6°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.4" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,912 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 48.2 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.4% ✓ Higher | 66.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 24.7% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cape Coral's cost of living index is 104.9 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Cape Coral is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Cape Coral leads 13 of 19 categories. Cape Coral wins 13 and Vacaville wins 6. 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($302,400 vs $560,400 median home), income ($72,474 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cape Coral, FL and Vacaville, CA are about 2,444 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.