Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cape Coral, FL
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Cape Coral leads 12 of 20 categories
Cape Coral
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,474
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,912
Washington
District of Columbia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cape Coral, FL
Pros
Homes cost $403k less ($302,400 vs $705,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 45°F
Rent averages $187/mo less ($1,630 vs $1,817)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $29,248/yr
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $29,248 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Cape Coral
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 104.9 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Cape Coral
Median Home Value
$403k less
$302,400 vs $705,000
Cape Coral
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$29,248
$101,722 vs $72,474/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cape Coral, FL | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $302,400 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,630⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,474 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.6% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 92.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.4" | 45.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,912 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 48.2 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.4% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 18.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 24.7% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cape Coral's cost of living index is 104.9 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Cape Coral is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Cape Coral leads 12 of 20 categories. Cape Coral wins 12 and Washington 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($302,400 vs $705,000 median home), income ($72,474 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cape Coral, FL and Washington, DC are about 895 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.