Cape Coral, FL Local Data & Statistics

State: FL

Total population: 215,536 Household income: $78,104 Rent: $1,858

Overview

Total population

215,536

Rent

$1,858

Year built

2000

Household income

$78,104

Per capita income

$40,880

Poverty rate

10.7%

Unemployment rate

3.2%

Household size

2.6 persons

Rent over 30% of income

61.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Florida

Total population

215,536

Adults over 25

164,746

Total households

82,914

Household size

2.6 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$78,104

Per capita income

$40,880

Poverty rate

10.7%

Unemployment rate

3.2%

Rent over 30% of income

61.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,858

Year built

2000

Households that rent

22.8%

Households that own

77.2%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.5

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

69.4%

Black

4.2%

Asian

1.4%

Two or more races

20%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

26.4%

Not Hispanic or Latino

73.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

85%

Commute time to work

30 mins

Work from home

15%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

27.5%

High school graduate or GED

34.8%

Some college or associate degree

10.8%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

26.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Cape Coral, FL with: Florida United States

Cape Coral, FL

Total population215,536

Rent$1,858

Year built2000

Household income$78,104

Per capita income$40,880

Poverty rate10.7%

Unemployment rate3.2%

Florida State

Total population22,416,077

Rent$1,669

Year built1988

Household income$74,568

Per capita income$42,609

Poverty rate12.6%

Unemployment rate3.4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityCape Coral, FL	StateFlorida	CountryUnited States
Total population	215,536	22,416,077	334,922,499
Rent	$1,858	$1,669	$1,413
Year built	2000	1988	1980
Household income	$78,104	$74,568	$80,734
Per capita income	$40,880	$42,609	$44,673
Poverty rate	10.7%	12.6%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.2%	3.4%	4%

View the complete comparison of Cape Coral, FL, Florida and United States →

Summary for Cape Coral, FL

Cape Coral is located in Florida.

Rent & Income

In Cape Coral, the typical monthly rent is $1,858 and the typical household income is $78,104. Rent here is higher than both Florida and the U.S., and household income is similar to both Florida and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 10.7%, which is lower than in both Florida and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 22.8% of households. About 61.9% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 26.9% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.2%, which is lower than both Florida and the national rate.

Cape Coral, FL — Rent vs Household Income

Cape Coral, FL — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Cape Coral, FL compares in Florida (59 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,858	39 / 59	from lower rent	$1,246 – $2,851
Household income	$78,104	19 / 59	from higher income	$46,195 – $139,825
Poverty rate	10.7%	18 / 59	from lower poverty	6.1% – 30.8%
Unemployment rate	3.2%	33 / 59	from lower unemployment	2.1% – 4.5%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Florida with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Cape Coral, FL

Rent

Rent prices put Cape Coral in 39th place among 59 large communities in Florida. Across Florida, rents range from $1,246 in Winter Haven, FL up to $2,851 in Weston, FL.

Household income

Cape Coral ranks 19th among 59 large places for typical household income. Statewide values run from $46,195 in Gainesville, FL to $139,825 in Weston, FL.

Poverty rate

Cape Coral places 18th out of 59 large communities for poverty. Statewide figures move from 6.1% in Weston, FL up to 30.8% in Gainesville, FL.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put Cape Coral in 33rd place among 59 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 2.1% in Miami Beach, FL to 4.5% in Daytona Beach, FL.

💰 Rent in Cape Coral, FL (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,858 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Cape Coral, FL

Annual Household Income: $78,104

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Cape Coral, FL

Estimated Rate: 10.7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Cape Coral, FL

In Cape Coral, FL, households that rent: 18,878 (22.8%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	18,878	22.8%
Owner-Occupied	64,036	77.2%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Cape Coral, FL

In Cape Coral, FL, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 11,683 (61.9%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	11,683	61.9%
Other renter households	7,195	38.1%
Total renter households	18,878	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Cape Coral, FL

Less than High School: 45,239 people (27.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 57,276 people (34.8%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 17,849 people (10.8%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 44,382 people (26.9%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 164,746

📊 Unemployment Rate in Cape Coral, FL

Estimated Rate: 3.2%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Des Moines, IA212,464 Modesto, CA218,614 Huntsville, AL218,814 Fontana, CA211,921 Port St. Lucie, FL220,453 Tacoma, WA220,482 Moreno Valley, CA210,378 Frisco, TX210,238 Rochester, NY209,720 Fayetteville, NC209,692

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.