The Town FilesCape Coral, Florida
City in Lee County · population 194,016 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $373,500
- Household income
- $78,104
- Jan low / Jul high
- 54° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 77
- Median age
- 48.6
Cape Coral is a city of 194,016 people in Lee County, Florida. The median home is worth $373,500, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for families than 81% of Florida towns, better for a vacation home than 75% of Florida towns, more seaside character than 74% of Florida towns.
How Cape Coral ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cape Coral is worth $373,500, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $78,104, which is more affordable than 44% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,858 a month. 77.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cape Coral | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $373,500 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,858 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $78,104 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 77.2% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 2000 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.7% | — |
Who lives in Cape Coral
| People | Cape Coral | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.6 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.0% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.9% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 19.1% | — |
| Work from home | 15.0% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.9% | 92.4% |
Weather in Cape Coral
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 54.3°F. About 57.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 120 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 0 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
77 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cape Coral since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 9, 2024 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 28, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 31, 1965.
Severe weather in Lee County since 1996
Lee County has been included in 45 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Lee County
Lee County had 299,283 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,578 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Cape Coral itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Cape Coral
27 public schools with 26,174 students, about 23.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDA S. BAKER HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,116 | 27.1 |
| CAPE CORAL HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,936 | 23.9 |
| MARINER HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,894 | 24.6 |
| ISLAND COAST HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,418 | 24.9 |
| GULF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 1,163 | 20.1 |
| CHALLENGER MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,142 | 21.5 |
| DIPLOMAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 1,072 | 20.2 |
| SKYLINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 1,040 | 18.6 |
| TRAFALGAR MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 973 | 20.7 |
| MARINER MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 964 | 21.4 |
| CALOOSA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 963 | 17.8 |
| MID CAPE GLOBAL ACADEMY (charter) | PK-8 | 955 | 63.7 |
Towns near Cape Coral
- Lochmoor Waterway Estates, FL5.6 mi · 5,828 people · home $386,200
- McGregor, FL7.7 mi · 7,976 people · home $467,600
- Whiskey Creek, FL8.4 mi · 4,842 people · home $379,600
- Pine Manor, FL8.8 mi · 4,122 people · home $273,800
- Iona, FL9.0 mi · 16,908 people · home $322,800
- Suncoast Estates, FL9.2 mi · 4,097 people · home $106,800
- Cypress Lake, FL9.4 mi · 13,727 people · home $258,900
- St. James City, FL9.5 mi · 3,876 people · home $319,700
Cape Coral questions
Is Cape Coral, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cape Coral scores better for retirees than 58% of Florida towns and quieter than 57%. 25.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.6).
How much does a house cost in Cape Coral?
The median owner-occupied home in Cape Coral is valued at $373,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,104, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $1,858 a month.
What is the weather like in Cape Coral?
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 54.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Cape Coral get tornadoes?
77 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cape Coral since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 9, 2024. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)