Cape Coral water ski show, c. 1975
Cape Coral’s story
69 years in pictures
Census counts: 10,193 in 1970, 194,016 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1975 and 3 maps from 1958 on.
- 1957Cape Coral is settled
Photo: David Wilson · CC BY 2.0
Population
236,264
2025 Census estimate · +21.8% since 2020
Typical home
$335K
−2.9% in a year
Household income
$78K
median
Median age
48.6
years
Jobs based here
42,015
A commuter town
TownGrade
C−
#484 of 634 in FL
What is it like to live in Cape Coral?
For a city of 236,264, Cape Coral does unevenly: it grades C−, 484th among Florida's 634 graded towns. Residents are healthier than 62% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. The trade-offs: the typical home is worth about $335K, 4.4 years of the Cape Coral metro’s $76K median household income, and FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 84% of U.S. communities, with hurricanes at the top. Cape Coral’s January low is 53°F, near the Florida town median (51°F) and above the median of U.S. towns (22°F). On history, just 20 of Florida’s 779 towns do worse. The biggest place to walk is Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve, 374 acres with 1.4 miles of trail.
A growing town
Cape Coral has grown 53% since 2010
154,305 counted in 2010 and 194,016 in 2020; an estimated 236,264 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 21.8% since 2020, after 25.7% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Cape Coral grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Florida), ordered by how far Cape Coral is from typical.
Cost of livingDOpen →Hazard riskhurricanes tops the listDOpen →SchoolsC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.2 of 20; 3.5% of households have no car; 1.3% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →HealthCape Coral Hospital 3.5 miles awayBOpen →Jobs & incomeBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2% conserved landC+Open →History11 notable people born hereD−Open →Civic life1.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Cape Coral: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Cape Coral, and how to reach them.
PowerFPL14.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Cape Coral water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Florida you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereLee Supervisor of ElectionsLee County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2023
ZIP codes33914, 33990, 33909, 3390433914 22% · 33990 17% · 33909 17% · 33904 17%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 17, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Cape Coral.
Cape Coral has more 90° days than nearly all U.S. towns and has home values still below their peak, but it has a long record of flood insurance claims.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Hurricanes leads a very high hazard risk in Cape Coral
4,381 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 26 properties have flooded more than once.
Since 1979, 4,381 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Cape Coral.
84risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland flooding
4,381
paid flood claims since 1979
12
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SchoolsC+
Public schools in Cape Coral fall behind 64% of Florida districts
Its public schools are run by the Lee school district. Three of its 35 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
36%of FL districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 1,193 | A− |
| Ida S. Baker High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 2,191 | B− |
| Oasis Charter Elementary School-SouthTop results in townGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 875 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within FL on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
Cape Coral has 0.5 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Jobs based here grew from 24,964 in 2013 to 42,015.
About one in 4 of Cape Coral’s working residents works in town. Since 2013, Cape Coral has added 17,051 jobs, to 42,015 in 2023. The average trip to work in Cape Coral is 30 minutes.
23%work in town
| Cape Coral | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 23% | 5% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 30 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 15% | 14% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Cape Coral23%
Fort Myers19%
Villas3%
North Fort Myers2%
Bonita Springs1%
10 mi
median commute distance
42,015
jobs based in Cape Coral
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 63% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
#282for trails in FL
| Cape Coral | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 1.9% | 3% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
1.9%
conserved · 1,442 of 76,337 acres
43 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Yellow Fever Creek Preserve | 2.6 mi | 219 |
| 2. Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve | 1.4 mi | 374 |
| 3. Del Prado Linear Park | 0.6 mi | 50 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
In Cape Coral, expect mild winters and hot summers
The Punta Gorda 4 Ese weather station, 19 miles away, records that about 136 days a year reach 90°, more than in 98% of U.S. towns. January nights average 52.7°, milder than in 99% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 92°.
Cape Coral has warm winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. Cape Coral’s July high is 92°F. Snow is almost unheard of.
92°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter55–77°
Spring63–85°
Summer74–92°
Fall67–86°
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthB
For health, Cape Coral earns a B
14% of Cape Coral adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance. Cape Coral beats the Florida average on 5 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 34% of Cape Coral adults sleep under 7 hours.
62%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Cape Coral | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 14% | 8.1% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 18% | 23% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 32% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 37% | 36% |
31 measures vs. Florida
5 better25 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Cape Coral | FL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 6.9% | 8.6% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 13.5% | 16.8% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.4% | 9.1% |
Cape Coral Hospital
3.5 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
57th
percentile among FL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade D
For cost of living, Cape Coral earns a D
The typical value, about $335K, is 22% below its August 2022 peak. At about $335K, home values are up 1% in five years, against a rise of 19% across Florida.
65% of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent in Cape Coral. The typical Cape Coral home is worth about $335,000, down 2.9% in a year, 11% below the Florida typical home.
$335KZillow home value
| Cape Coral | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,858 a month | $1,647 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 65% | 59% | 48% |
| Households that own their home | 77% | 72% | 73% |
Typical home value
Cape Coral$335K
Florida$375K
Market temperature
56
days on market
96.9%
sale-to-list price
−2.9%
value change, 1 year
538
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
An age mix much like Florida’s
Cape Coral has grown 22% since 2020, to 236,264 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 27% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 34% across Florida.
48.6median age · FL 42.6
| Cape Coral | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.6 years | 42.4 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 25% | 20% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 18% | 20% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 27% | 31% | 29% |
Cape CoralFloridaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma7%
High school35%
Some college22%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s18%
Graduate9%
Women and men · all residents
50.0% women, 50.0% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±0.7 points. Across Florida, 50.9% of residents are women. Median age: women 49.4, men 48.0.
| Cape Coral | FL | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.9% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 7.7% | 9.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6% | 8.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.1% | 12.7% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.4% | 12.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 15.9% | 13.4% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 14.4% | 11.7% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 10.5% | 9.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.2% | 10.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 34.8% | 27.2% | 26% |
| Some college | 21.5% | 18.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.6% | 10.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 17.5% | 21.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 9.4% | 12.9% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Nearby attractions
All 22 attractions →Edison and Ford Winter Estates and 13 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Cape Coral. Close and well known come first.
7 mi MuseumEdison and Ford Winter Estates
20 mi Stadium & arenaHertz Arena
16 mi State parkCayo Costa State Park17 mi State parkMound Key Archeological State Park
18 mi State parkKoreshan State Historic Site
33 mi Ancient siteWarm Mineral SpringsSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Edison and Ford Winter Estates: Rolf Müller (User:Rolfmueller), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Hertz Arena: Tthaas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cayo Costa State Park: https://www.flickr.com/photos/andrea_pauline/, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Koreshan State Historic Site: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Warm Mineral Springs: Blas0082, Public domain
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Cape Coral
19pages on Cape Coral
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Cape Coral
About 4 of every 100 Cape Coral residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Florida.
Famous people from Cape Coral
11 notable people were born in Cape Coral.
N
Niko PriceAmerican mixed martial arts fighter · born 1989C
Curtis KitchenAmerican basketball player · born 1964
About Cape Coral
City in the United States
Cape Coral is a city in Lee County, Florida, United States, on the Gulf of Mexico. Founded in 1957, the city's population had grown to 194,016 as of the 2020 census, a 26% increase from 154,309 at the 2010 census, making it the ninth-most populous city in Florida. With an area of 120 square miles (310 km2), Cape Coral is the largest city between Tampa and Miami in both population and area. It is the largest and principal city in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city has over 400 mi (640 km) of navigable waterways, more than any other city on earth.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1957
- Area
- 119 sq mi
- Elevation
- 7 ft
- ZIP code
- 33904, 33909, 33910
- Area code
- 239
Cape Coral’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with Cape Coral.
North Fort MyersMatlacha Isles-Matlacha ShoresFort MyersBurnt Store MarinaLochmoor Waterway EstatesCape Coral
How the neighbors grade
| Town | FL rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | #484 | C− | D | — | C+ | B |
| North Fort Myers | #320 | C | B | — | C+ | C+ |
| Matlacha Isles-Matlacha Shores | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Fort Myers | #570 | D | D− | C− | C+ | C+ |
| Burnt Store Marina | — | — | D | — | C+ | A− |
| Lochmoor Waterway Estates | #358 | C | D | — | C+ | B+ |
Burnt Store Marina has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, Burnt Store Marina and Lochmoor Waterway Estates report no FBI crime data of their own. Matlacha Isles-Matlacha Shores isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Cape Coral with a neighbor →
Questions about Cape Coral
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Cape Coral, FL a good place to live?
Cape Coral grades C− overall, better than 17% of U.S. towns and #484 of 634 in Florida. It grades B for health and C+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
What is Cape Coral, FL known for?
11 notable people were born here, including Mike Zunino and Niko Price.