Livability Score

76
/100
i The AreaVibes Livability Score evaluates 9 different categories and creates an overall score out of 100. The higher the score, the better the area.

amenities B+

There are some amenities close to this location.
Coffee (12) F
Penny's Coffee Bar
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Coffee Haus
Coffee Shop
The Cafe Restaurant
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Chocolattés Coffee & Roasting
Coffee Shop
Entertainment (9) F
Cape Coral Arts Studio
Theatre Arts
Cape Coral Arts Sudio
Theatre Arts
David McCreary's House
Attraction
Marquee Cinemas Coralwood 10
Cinema
Rush Auditorium
Theatre Arts
Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall
Theatre Arts
Food and Drink (67) A-
McDonald's
Fast Food
Palace Pub & Wine Bar
Bar
No. 3 Craft Brews & Beer Bar
Bar
Noela Chocolate & Confections
Sweets
DIY Yogurt
Sweets
Pedal Pub
Bar
Subway
Fast Food
Wendy's
Fast Food
Dunkin'
Fast Food
Cruisers Lounge
Bar
Dolphin Key Resort
Bar
Culver's
Fast Food
Papa John's
Fast Food
Publix Liquor Shop
Alcohol
Fins Seafood & Dive Bar
Bar
Dunkin'
Fast Food
Burger King
Fast Food
McDonald's
Fast Food
Wendy's
Fast Food
Burger Que
Fast Food
Dunkin'
Fast Food
Five Guys
Fast Food
Firehouse Subs
Fast Food
Little Caesars
Fast Food
Subway
Fast Food
Fitness (9) F
Planet Fitness
Gym
Orangetheory Fitness
Gym
Esporta Fitness
Gym
Health & Strength
Gym
Groceries (22) A+
Merrick Seafood
Seafood
Winn-Dixie
Grocery Store
Cafeteria & Bakery
Bakery
El Mambo II Bakery & Cafe
Bakery
Publix
Grocery Store
Walmart Neighborhood Market
Grocery Store
Publix
Grocery Store
Walmart Neighborhood Market
Grocery Store
Publix
Grocery Store
Publix
Grocery Store
Publix
Grocery Store
Parks (71) C-
Founder's Park
Park
Rubicond Park
Park
Four Freedoms Park
Park
Veterans Park
Park
Bernice Braden Park
Park
Jaycee Park
Park
Yacht Club Community Park
Park
Yacht Club Community Park
Playground
Smiles Park
Park
Liam J. Perk Playground
Playground
Pelican Soccer Complex
Park
Rotary Park Environmental Center
Park
Pelican Baseball Complex
Park
Jason Verdow Memorial Park
Park
Rutenberg Community Park
Park
Koza/Saldino Park
Park
Harlem Heights Community Park
Park
Kelly Road Soccer Complex
Park
Horton Park
Park
Camelot Park
Park
Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve
Park
Shops (131) A+
Vogue Hair Studio
Hairdresser
Diamond Dave's Creative Jewelry
Fashion
7-Eleven
Convenience Store
New Start Wellness Center
Beauty
VCA Baywood Animal Hospital & Pet Resort
Pets
Tropical Furniture Gallery
Furniture
Tropical Furniture Gallery
Furniture
Zak's Jewelry
Fashion
VCA Baywood Animal Hospital & Pet Resort
Pets
Steppin' On Up Women's Boutique
Shoes
Parkway Antiques Corp
Furniture
John Michael's Diamond & Jewelry Studio
Fashion
Razzle Dazzle Boutique
Clothing
Theresa's Face & Body
Beauty
Refuge Salon
Beauty
Crown Trophy
Gift Shop
Donna's Book Stop & Paperback Exchange
Books
Lee Family Antiques
Furniture
Nail Creations
Beauty
Family Traditions Home Decor & Furnishings
Interior Decoration
Comfort Telecommunications
Electronics
Somewhere on 47th Terrace
Hairdresser
Hairlook Salon
Hairdresser
Polish Parlor
Beauty
Chica Cubana
Clothing
See more Cape Coral amenity data

commute F

Of all people who commute, 0.2% take public transportation in Cape Coral.
Public Transit Stops (4)
Stops & Stations
F
Skyline Boulevard @ Southwest Forty-Seventh Terrace
Bus Stop
Gladiolus Dr @ San Carlos Blvd
Bus Stop
Gladiolus Drive @ San Carlos Boulevard
Bus Stop
Coralwood Mall
Bus Stop
Gladiolus Drive @ Hagie Drive
Bus Stop
Gladiolus Drive @ Sea Crest Boulevard
Bus Stop
Gladiolus Drive @ Gladiolus Preserve Circle
Bus Stop
Gladiolus @ Bass
Bus Stop
Gladiolus Dr @ Bass Rd-WB
Bus Stop
Workers Taking Public Transit
0.2%
F
See more Cape Coral commute data

cost of living B

The cost of living in Cape Coral is 112/100 - which is 15% higher than Florida.
Cost of Living
Goods & Services, Housing, etc.
D
Tax Rates
Income & Sales Tax
A+
See more Cape Coral cost of living data

crime C-

Cape Coral crime rates are 2,525 per 100k, which is 38% higher than Florida
Property Crime
2,166 crimes per 100k
D+
Violent Crime
358 crimes per 100k
C-
See more Cape Coral crime data

employment C+

The median income in Cape Coral is $61,780 - which is 26% higher than Florida.
Med. Household Income
$61,780
C-
Unemployment Rate
3.3%
B-
See more Cape Coral employment data

health A+

There are some hospitals, police and fire stations.
Health & Safety (49)
Dentist, Doctor, Hospital, etc.
A+
Castillo's Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Wunderlich Chiropractic
Doctor
Lee Podiatry Group
Doctor
Desai Dental Studio
Dentist
Cape Coral Fire Department Station 1
Fire Station
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Active Life Family Chiropractic
Doctor
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Fire Station 1
Fire Station
Cape Coral Fire Station 9
Fire Station
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Iona McGregor Fire Station #74
Fire Station
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Cape Coral Fire Station #3
Fire Station
Iona McGregor Fire Station 71
Fire Station
Acosta Dental Care
Dentist
Eye Centers of Florida
Doctor
Walgreens
Pharmacy
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Iona McGregor Fire Department Station 5
Fire Station
Lee County Sheriff's Office Charlie West District
Police
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Dr Christopher Yuvienco
Doctor
Air Quality
Median Air Quality
A+
See more Cape Coral health & safety data

housing A+

Cape Coral home prices are $237,400 - which is 42% higher than Florida
Home Price
$237,400
A
Home Appreciation Rate
27%
A+
Home Affordability
3.8x (home price to income ratio)
C-
See more Cape Coral housing data

schools B-

The Cape Coral graduation rate is 86% - which is 4% higher than Florida
School Test Scores
61%
C-
High School Grad. Rates
86%
C+
Elementary Schools (29) F
Grace Community School - Skyline Blvd Campus
Cape Elementary School
Pelican Elementary School
Providence Christian School
St Andrew Catholic School
Maimonides Hebrew Day School
Cypress Lake Middle School
Heights Elementary School
Harlem Heights Community Charter School
Canterbury School
Unity Charter School Of Cape Coral
High Schools (12) F
Grace Community School - Skyline Blvd Campus
Cypress Lake High School
Cape Coral High School
Canterbury School
Florida Southwestern Collegiate High School
See more Cape Coral education data

ratings C+

Cape Coral has an overall rating of 66% from 73 reviews.
User Reviews (18)
From AreaVibes
D+
User Surveys (55)
From AreaVibes
A
See more Cape Coral user rating data
Amenities Commute Cost of Living Crime Employment Health & Safety Housing Schools User Ratings
Photo of Cape Coral, FL
( 73 Ratings )

Living in Cape Coral, FL

Cape Coral Area Facts

  • Cape Coral has a Livability Score of 76/100, which is considered excellent
  • Cape Coral crime rates are 38% higher than the Florida average
  • Cost of living in Cape Coral is 15% higher than the Florida average
New Real Estate Listings in Cape Coral Area
Search Homes for Sale in Cape Coral, FL

Cape Coral Reviews

Write a review about Cape Coral Tell people what you like or don't like about Cape Coral…
Cape Coral Waterfront Paradise 5 rating By Anonymous ( Nov 10, 2022) Waterfront living on over 400 miles of canals. Great boating with or without gulf access. Great fishing. Friendly community with a growing dining scene. Close to 2 airports! ...Read More Read Less
Corruption capital of Lee County 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Nov 19, 2018) Reluctantly moved here in 2012. I managed to escape but am blighted with having to have been back here for some time now. I'm stuck owning a wood-framed shoe box of a house in N.Cape and was quoted a $2,700.00 price for new well equipment to keep my house rentable. City hall just ...Read More told me I'm in North 4 and that means this backward, ripoff place is going to make me wait another five years to have to pay a $30,000.00 bill for water and sewer - amenities every other, far older city in the country has. This city counsel is more concerned with widening streets in the "entertainment district" and planting a bunch of trees, rather than ensuring it's tax-paying residents have modern water and sewer. My taxes are now $2,000.00 a year and raise annually. I pay the same amount as houses WITH city water and sewer. Read Less
Most HONEST review of the Cape 1.5 rating By advisor ( Aug 11, 2017) Where do I begin? I have been a 25 year resident of Cape Coral {why?} and I am also an established business owner in the hospitality and entertainment industry for 7 years here. I would like to give you an honest assessment of the Cape. Cape Coral is great for people who fit ...Read More the model or mold that it wants you to fit into. That is to say that a 150 sq mile City { second largest land mass to Jacksonville} has a very definitive draw. Fairly cheap housing is plentiful for retirees. $150,000 buys you a very nice 3/2/2 home off water with reasonable $1300 a year taxes. That being said, the niceties pretty much end there. I guess a lot would come from your personal culture of quality of life spent over the last 40 years before your move to the sunshine state. I do have some awesome customers who frequent our establishment weekly and spend a decent amount of cash. But the culture of spending in the Cape is far from perfect. There are very few clean and inspiring venues to visit and the businesses here tend to cater to the , please don't be offended but, poorer, lower income, mostly retired veteran, low quality customers. Sadly, it is apparent that the people who migrate to Cape Coral are the Boomers and older retirees who have not got the big nest egg to blow on themselves in their golden years so........... lots of 2 for ones, coupons, discounts and very sub par dining experiences to get you in the door. Hey, I'm all for saving a few bucks but the crowd seems to migrate to the basement whenever possible. This has created an environment of average at best options. Sadly, many here adapt to the lifestyle or move on after noticing they are "better than that" or desire something......better than average.Hotels, rentals, retail and restaurants tend to make most of their capital in the winter months when the residents swell with snowbirds, bringing extra cash and spending often, creating long dinner lines at bars and shops and restaurants, to the dismay of the "locals". Locals despise these people and will boycott their favorite establisments due to the seasonal people but what the never understand is that these seasonals own TWO homes on water, FOUR cars, TWO boats, Two insurance bills, TWO tax bills etc, etc, etc. They spend big money. The locals don't. Summers suck and you would think with 185,000 full time residents you would see the locals flock to the venues when the snowbirds are gone right? wrong. They sit home, complain about the heat and try to outlive their meager savings, causing business to shutter their doors, some for good, others for months or weeks at a time, raising unemployment levels and perpetuating failure. Such a sad situation to say the least.This cycle has never changed so, savy business owners give away quarter tacos and sliders to get you to, drink. That's where the metal hits the meat in the Cape! Drinkers can be seen flocking to the local watering holes, veteran halls, elks, eagles etc, etc. I get it..... unfortunately. So where does all this lead the Cape? An endless chain of vapor shops, tattoo halls, pawn shops, cheap dive bars and assorted crap that lower class people thrive on. Look, I'm not saying I'm better, just a blatant observation in a sea of fast food franchises serving up pre cooked and processed garbage and serving it to the deserving masses. I had always wanted something better for Cape Coral, It just never came to pass............bye. Read Less
The Cape is great 5 rating By Nomar ( Jun 03, 2017) The Cape is a great place to live. Yes hot months but after summer is over our weather is great. Sometimes sweater weather. Lowest crime rate an A. So many amenities and things to do, or not do, just sit around your pool or go to the yacht club and swim or the small beach the ...Read More re. Sun splash is also great, small theater with good shows. We have large lots large back yards. Been here for 15 years and have not seen a rat or mice I'm sure we have them what city doesn't? I am amazed at the folks that say Cape Coral is horrible because it is not at all. It is quiet, average traffic, very very nice schools, restaurants, movie theaters, shopping and more. Folks need to go out and see the Cape and enjoy everything it has to offer. A very family oriented city. Do not believe the forums that put the cape Down. Read Less
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Most HONEST review of the Cape 1.5 rating By advisor ( Aug 11, 2017) Where do I begin? I have been a 25 year resident of Cape Coral {why?} and I am also an established business owner in the hospitality and entertainment industry for 7 years here. I would like to give you an honest assessment of the Cape. Cape Coral is great for people who fit ...Read More the model or mold that it wants you to fit into. That is to say that a 150 sq mile City { second largest land mass to Jacksonville} has a very definitive draw. Fairly cheap housing is plentiful for retirees. $150,000 buys you a very nice 3/2/2 home off water with reasonable $1300 a year taxes. That being said, the niceties pretty much end there. I guess a lot would come from your personal culture of quality of life spent over the last 40 years before your move to the sunshine state. I do have some awesome customers who frequent our establishment weekly and spend a decent amount of cash. But the culture of spending in the Cape is far from perfect. There are very few clean and inspiring venues to visit and the businesses here tend to cater to the , please don't be offended but, poorer, lower income, mostly retired veteran, low quality customers. Sadly, it is apparent that the people who migrate to Cape Coral are the Boomers and older retirees who have not got the big nest egg to blow on themselves in their golden years so........... lots of 2 for ones, coupons, discounts and very sub par dining experiences to get you in the door. Hey, I'm all for saving a few bucks but the crowd seems to migrate to the basement whenever possible. This has created an environment of average at best options. Sadly, many here adapt to the lifestyle or move on after noticing they are "better than that" or desire something......better than average.Hotels, rentals, retail and restaurants tend to make most of their capital in the winter months when the residents swell with snowbirds, bringing extra cash and spending often, creating long dinner lines at bars and shops and restaurants, to the dismay of the "locals". Locals despise these people and will boycott their favorite establisments due to the seasonal people but what the never understand is that these seasonals own TWO homes on water, FOUR cars, TWO boats, Two insurance bills, TWO tax bills etc, etc, etc. They spend big money. The locals don't. Summers suck and you would think with 185,000 full time residents you would see the locals flock to the venues when the snowbirds are gone right? wrong. They sit home, complain about the heat and try to outlive their meager savings, causing business to shutter their doors, some for good, others for months or weeks at a time, raising unemployment levels and perpetuating failure. Such a sad situation to say the least.This cycle has never changed so, savy business owners give away quarter tacos and sliders to get you to, drink. That's where the metal hits the meat in the Cape! Drinkers can be seen flocking to the local watering holes, veteran halls, elks, eagles etc, etc. I get it..... unfortunately. So where does all this lead the Cape? An endless chain of vapor shops, tattoo halls, pawn shops, cheap dive bars and assorted crap that lower class people thrive on. Look, I'm not saying I'm better, just a blatant observation in a sea of fast food franchises serving up pre cooked and processed garbage and serving it to the deserving masses. I had always wanted something better for Cape Coral, It just never came to pass............bye. Read Less
The Cape is great 5 rating By Nomar ( Jun 03, 2017) The Cape is a great place to live. Yes hot months but after summer is over our weather is great. Sometimes sweater weather. Lowest crime rate an A. So many amenities and things to do, or not do, just sit around your pool or go to the yacht club and swim or the small beach the ...Read More re. Sun splash is also great, small theater with good shows. We have large lots large back yards. Been here for 15 years and have not seen a rat or mice I'm sure we have them what city doesn't? I am amazed at the folks that say Cape Coral is horrible because it is not at all. It is quiet, average traffic, very very nice schools, restaurants, movie theaters, shopping and more. Folks need to go out and see the Cape and enjoy everything it has to offer. A very family oriented city. Do not believe the forums that put the cape Down. Read Less
WELL KEPT SECRET 0.5 rating By jatucker ( Apr 11, 2017) My husband and I were so happy to find such a beautiful, peaceful place to vacation...SURPRISE!!There is a very well kept secret in Cape Coral and I don't know how. Upon arriving into town, we stopped to pick up a few groceries and were greeted by a huge RAT running along the sid ...Read More ewalk right in front of the store! OK we thought...couldn't be that many...WRONG! Arrived at our "Villa" ( term used to interest renters) and it was a nice little house in a decent neighborhood on a canal. The day before we left my husband found a surprise on the steps to the dock.....ANOTHER RAT!Upon inspection he could see where there was tons of activity under the concrete right by the pool! Upon getting ready to leave the realtor came for an inspection to make sure we hadn't gone over our electric allotment (can you imagine worrying about how much electric you've use for a week after paying over $2000) and my husband tactfully explained about the rat he found...here's the good part...realtor said "OH WE DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM, THEY ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE OF HURTING SOMEONE'S ANIMAL"...really? Rats can kill small pets! In researching this problem I discovered that they are literally all over the place there because of the canals...DISGUSTING!! Pretty, peaceful or whatever...NO THANKS! Not one review that I read said anything about the huge rat population. Tons of snakes, alligators & other wildlife is one thing, but RATS! The shear number of rat exterminators between there and Fort Myers tells the story too...literally a couple hundred! They are there for a reason. So sad that I have read about people buying there sight unseen...and no one says a word. Storm sewers are open right from the canals into the front yards...straight shot for the rats...come on people! Read Less
The Wild Wild West 3 rating By HowieCantrell ( Mar 28, 2017) For sure Cape Coral is a beautiful scenic city with great weather, but has a very shady government that’s like the wild – wild west.. No check and balance by the media. Maybe if that book gets discovered, it may make the city government clean up their act. Don’t have muc ...Read More h respect for the local churches. Government condemns a church, prohibits a religious group to practice their religion, and not one church has stood up and objected. I had problems getting on site. It was washed all together in prior post. The site isbelow if anyone also had trouble checking it out.www.thereisnoplacelikecapecoral.com Read Less
NO PLACE LIKE CAPE CORAL 5 rating By HowieCantrell ( Mar 27, 2017) If you really want to know what to expect when you come to Cape Coral Florida, check out my new book going to press in a few months.www.thereisnoplacelikecapecoral.comNestled on a peninsula bordering the Caloosahatchee River, in the largest master planned community in the United ...Read More States, sits the City of Cape Coral Florida. Where 400 miles of canals, twist and turn throughout, Cape Coral has been named the waterway capital of the world, where tens of thousands of part time residents flock each winter to escape the harsh winters of their permanent homes. Snowbirds, as they are referred as, are often delighted with the beautiful scenery, open spaces, and the clean fresh air. Reportedly, these seasonal residents, who come each year to golf, fish, and just relax from their hectic other life, own almost 40% of the housing in Cape Coral. With little interest of politics and government, few ever experience the dark side of the community.“Yes, Marni, There is No Place Like Cape Coral,” tells a different story. One of corruption, tyranny, and an Un-Christian and discriminatory local government who abuse their authority in an unchecked like manner. The local media, in fear of staining the four and one half billion-dollar tourist trade, forgot that they were once the check and balance of wrongful acts of governments, and hide the reign of terror that exists.“Yes, Marni, There is No Place Like Cape Coral,” tells the story of a influential rich city who have no qualms in discriminating against the poor, disabled, and disadvantage residents they don’t want.Originally designed to disclose a single story of a local Religious group’s battle with the city, “No Place” has now evolved into a massive story that will be published in two separate volumes. Volume One takes you through the abuse of authority and conspiracy with a known felon to “destroy” the Haven of Divine Love’s humanitarian contributions to the citizens of Cape Coral, while Volume Two documents the violations of religious liberty and aftermath of their actions.“Yes, Marni, There is No Place Like Cape Coral,” By Howard Cantrell Read Less
NE Cape is a nice place to raise a family but expenses are increasing 3 rating By brightsunnyhome ( Mar 11, 2017) I am renting a house in NE Cape Coral in the Gator Circle area. If you want to buy a house here, be prepared to pay between $18,000 and $38,000 in water, sewer, and irrigation assessments. The city is bringing city water and sewer to every home and there is no way to opt out. ...Read More Most homes in the NE or NW as of 2017 are still on well water and septic. Especially in the last year, home values have increased so much that buying a house will be much more expensive than it would have been when I moved here in 2014, but still more affordable than many other areas of the country. That said, this is a quiet and very peaceful area that is abundant in wildlife. We have seen several alligators, (one walked past our house) iguanas, lizards, frogs, snakes, sea birds of all kinds, deer, coyotes, skunks, raccoons, armadillos, a wild boar, and a black bear across the street. The area is quiet and just lovely. There are many empty lots here in NE Cape, and many snowbirds as well. If you like freedom from hoas and peace and quiet, then this is your place.Cape Coral's crime rate has an A rating on Areavibes.com. The city has a huge police force. I would feel safe walking here, except that a lot of people let their dogs run loose and we have been approached and even attacked several times by dogs. The shopping is not bad. There are a couple of Targets and Walmarts, as well as a few department stores, discount stores, etc. but no real mall. Fort Meyers has good shopping though, and it's not too far away. Cape Coral has a river "beach", but no ocean. If you want to go to a real beach, you will have to drive about 30 minutes or so to go to Fort Meyers. There are two$2.00 toll bridges to get into Cape Coral, and two free bridges east of Cape Coral in North Fort Meyers. The hospital has been ok, but medical costs are higher here than where we came from. (A snake bite bill from the Cape Hospital er was $2,000.)There are good and bad doctors, like everywhere, and the same for dentists. People do not seem as open and friendly as what I am used to, but over time they warm up. In a neighborhood like this one you have to put yourself out there because people seem to keep more to themselves. I am not a nightlife person, so have no clue what to rate it.Overall, this has been a nice place to live. Read Less
My House Is In Cape Coral, Florida & Sell Real Estate in Southwest Florida 3.5 rating By marc0marc ( Oct 23, 2016) Hey can we get some builders, some buyers, some events, some restaurants PLEASE, SOME RESTAURANTS! Slow progress in the right direction. Property values are so low in certain spots, these gaps areas, it is almost unbelievable. I'm a Realtor in Southwest Florida and I just sold ...Read More a condominium, 2 bedroom 2 bath in Downtown, Historic River District, second floor, an 8 block walk to river, a 4 block walk to the start of River District Historic area restaurants & shops, and redesigned to attract vacationers, snowbird, the baby boomers.... Right? But this listing sold for a mere $26,500. WHAT. HEY World, Retire in Fort Myers, for that price you can buy and use it as a family getaway or group purchase you and 5 couples pay $5k cash and boom, a warm weather getaway. Just saying, come see me come and BUY property now or well HONESTLY, I, am going to prospect, blog and promote and try to get this pretty awesome, totally unbelievably & affordable area.... SOLD OUT.So. I attest to keeping news floating about ,whats hot and where the deals lie, but last time I will suggest October - January of 2017, (Pre-Season Months). Last time, I promise you will have the lowest prices you will ever see in this metropolitan marketplace ever again. #RealtorAmazeMarc Read Less
From someone born here 4 rating By dc03763 ( Oct 13, 2016) Ive been living here for about 13 years and boy do i love it here, although there arent good clothing stores, fort myers clothings stores are average so you can go there depending where you live. The dining isnt too good or bad as most of them are from hispanic heritage if you ar ...Read More e into that stuff. There are some bars here but around my area there are no nightclubs. There are good theatres but some are in fort myers, . The community can be bad or good in some parts but overall i see a couple of kids playing games in my street and the people here are friendly, there are almost no crimes here. The atractions are ok The best one is sun splashthere is a liabary and some arcades for kids. Overall its good if you are a family, One bad is thing is snowbirds. Way too much snowbirds Read Less
Great place to live 4 rating By Coach4U ( Mar 05, 2016) I have lived here since I was little (moved here 1977). I moved away for college but came back since it's such a wonderful area. It's constantly growing with new businesses and restaurants coming in. People are very friendly and the schools are awesome. Night live can be a littl ...Read More e slow as there are only a few bars downtown, but u can go to Fort Myers (about 10 mins away) for more bars. Crime is low and houses are affordable. There is also a small water park that is open in the summer. I wish this city had a little more stuff to do ( like art or science) but overall can't complain. Population here used to be an elderly community but now it's a combination of young and old and lots of families. If u have kids the Cape uses a school choice system where u pick your top schools that u want and then it goes to a lottery system. If u get in on the first batch, you usually have a great chance of getting your first choice ( especially for kindergarden, 6th grade and 9th). But even if u don't all the schools are great. Read Less
Volunteer at religious organization 0.5 rating By jayinbaker ( Sep 21, 2015) Best way to tell it is to look at www.havenofdivinelove.net

FACTS ABOUT THE CITY OF CAPE CORAL FLORIDA

Cape Coral is a city located in Lee County Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico Coast. It was founded in 1957 and developed as a master-planned, per-planned community for the wealt
...Read More hy. The city grew to a population of 154,305 by the year 2010. The city's population estimate was 165,831 for 2013 comprising of 73.5% white; 19.5% Hispanic or Latino; 4.3% black or African America; and the balance is other. The median household income is $49,170, mostly because of the high wages of city employees, but has 14.1% of the local residents below the poverty level. With an area of 120 square miles (310 km), Cape Coral is the largest city between Tampa and Miami. The city is known as a "Waterfront Wonderland", since with over 400 mi (640 km) of navigable waterways, Cape Coral has more miles of canals than any other city in the world. It is estimated that 46% of the housing is owned by out of state or out of country parties who pay a higher tax to the local government being non residents of the state, county, or city. Yet, because most of them are older, retired, or only visit the area during the winter months, the City of Cape Coral does not have to provide many of the costly services, such as schools, fire, and police of a normal city, saving millions of dollars that allows for higher employment and wages to city personnel.

The City Counsel is predominately run by ex-city employees and/or elected predominately by the city employee's union block. During the past 20 plus years, the voting turnout averages between 18-20%, in which the city's employee block comprises of just over 15%, making it almost impossible for non-city affiliates to be elected. Thus, the city is run by the city employees for their own benefit.

Even though The City of Cape Coral has a 14.1% population below the poverty level, they have no, and refuse to allow, any Homeless Shelters. They also have no Missions, or allow any religious Church or Organizations to operate Missions for the homeless. Additionally, The City of Cape Coral Florida has no HUD housing for low income seniors, disabled, of veterans that most cities encourage and support.

THE HAVEN OF DIVINE LOVE IS THE ONLY FACILITY WITHIN THE ENTIRE CITY OF CAPE CORAL FLORIDA THAT PROVIDES LOW COST HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS AND PERSONS OF LIMITED DISABILITIES. BY PROVIDING SUBSIDIES FROM ITS RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY, HOUSING COSTS TO ITS RESIDENTS IS OVER $200.00 BELOW AREA RENTALS. SINCE THE HAVEN OF DIVINE LOVE WAS BUILT IN 2000, THE CITY HAS DONE ALMOST EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO DETER ITS OPERATIONS AND CLOSE IT DOWN, BECAUSE THE JUST DON'T WANT TO HAVE POOR AND DISADVANTAGED PERSONS LIVING WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY.

The City of Cape Coral Florida is one of the most disorganized, mismanaged, and dysfunctional cities throughout the entire USA, and one of the most abusive to low income seniors, disabled persons,
and veterans Read Less
A true review of Cape Coral 0.5 rating By TigressJay ( Sep 02, 2015) Thinking about moving to Cape Coral, please read this first. I wish someone would have written something like this before we moved our family here. I have lived in Cape Coral, Florida for 1.5 years now and I can say that this is by far the worse place I have ever lived. There ...Read More is no sense of community here, so if you are looking for a place where you can meet neighbors and create friendships this is definitely not going to be a good fit. Neighbors do not speak with each other and often times homes around you are vacant up to 6-months out of the year because they are owned by snowbirds. There are vey few actual neighborhoods and most housing is actually built right off of the roadways; which is just weird in my opinion. Not many people decorate their homes for the holidays and almost no one participates in Halloween, it literally becomes a ghost town where all lights are off in all homes. This is not the typical Floridian city and southern hospitality does not exist here. A lot of the people you will interact with within the SW Florida area will demonstrate a lot of passive aggressive behavior, I'm not sure why this is maybe it's because they aren't sure if you are a snowbird or an actual resident or an American for that matter since a lot of Europeans, especially Germans, vacation here for some reason. One plus is that the crime rate is low, you can definitely walk out of your house and feel safe. The job market seems to be good in the area, most jobs are located between Fort Myers and Naples, so travel time to work is typically 30 minutes to an hour. Companies down here do tend to pay better than other parts of Florida, so that is definitely a plus. If you can speak Spanish your services may get you paid more money. There are very few restaurants worth eating at in Cape Coral and in order to get actual edible cuisine you have to leave the city and travel at least 30 minutes or sometimes an hour away to other cities which means you pretty much are going to have to pay a $2.00 toll to get back home (however,we do have some chain restaurants like Olive Garden, Ruby Tuesdays, Chili's, and others). Gas and food prices are high compared to other parts of the state. Shopping is a nightmare! There are NO malls in Cape Coral at all. If you need clothing your choices are Target, Walmart, Kohls, Bealls, and a JCPenny. You have to leave the cape and drive at least 30 minutes or more in order to reach an actual mall or decent clothing store. If you are looking for kids clothes, you might as well just hang it up and order everything on-line because kids clothes down here is almost non-existent. What is carried in the kids departments around the area looks like the left over clothes that couldn't be sold in other stores -it's pretty bad. Also the kids departments are extremely small. The one good thing about "The Cape" is that the schools are great and are a lot better than other public school systems in Florida. However, the school system here is on a "lottery system" so even though you get to "pick" your child's school you basically are just listing all the schools in order from most desirable to least desirable and then your child's fate hangs in the balance of the lottery. They might get the school you wanted and then again they may get the school that was 5th on their list. If you have children please read the rest of my post!!! The children here do not play with each other, most of the time you do not even know if you have children living near you because the kids are never outside playing with each other. Playdates are hard to set-up due to most parents around here just do not respond to any type of invites, this includes b-day parties - this is just a known fact around here! If you want your child to get social interaction other than school you will have to put them in after school activities. Sports are really big around here especially soccer. They do have lots of sports sign-ups, martial arts classes, and dance studios in the cape. There are NO toy stores, NO bookstores, and No attractions (other than nature walks and parks) in the cape. The most important issue we have had since we moved here is medical care. Once you pass Tampa good medical care goes out the window and cannot be found again until you make it to Miami. If you or anyone in your family has any type of medical issue, regardless of how small, do NOT move here. You will not be able to receive the type of treatment you need. In order to make an appointment and just become an established patient with JUST a primary care physician it can take as long as 3 months. You don't even want to know what the time frame would be for a specialist and that's if there is even that specific type of specialist in the area (some specialists in the area are on a 6 month wait!). Most of the time if you are in need of a specialist, especially for pediatrics, you will have to go to Miami or Tampa. Yes, there is a children's hospital in Fort Myers, but it is not a very good one. There is a hospital in Cape Coral, not sure I would ever want to be admitted there, but there is one. The Cape Coral Hospital is not a pediatric hospital. The nearest pediatric hospital is in Fort Myers in Lee Memorial's Health Park which is about a 20-30 minute drive or longer depending on what part of the Cape you live in. Unexpected health issues can leave you very frustrated as getting in to be seen by your doctor can take days, even for pediatric patients, they do not care if it's a baby or an 80 year old man they will literally not do anything to try and accommodate you in their schedule. I have witnessed many babies with ear infections where parents have been told that the doctor can see them in 3 days. The healthcare system is so poorly ran and congested down here that the quality of care is horrible at best. My children have been misdiagnosed, given the wrong medications, and sent home from the hospital instead of being admitted while bleeding internally, so when I say to be careful with the healthcare system I am not joking or trying to blow situations out of proportion, you really have to be paying close attention to your medical treatment down here. I'm not trying to be overly negative in my review but it is what it is here in Cape Coral and the residents here complain about the same things I have listed but yet no one ever tries to fix any of the issues. Other than that, it is the west coast of Florida, so you have the sun, sand, water, and fishing that you probably have in your mind, just know living in Cape Coral is not always as fun as a trip to the beach! Read Less
Cape Coral, FL 3.5 rating By Anonymous ( Dec 19, 2014) After living in Cape Coral for 10 years, i have come to realize that there are too many people here. There are plenty of attractions for those who live in the city, but it seems like everyone gathers in one place, especially in the summer. The beaches are beautiful, but they aren ...Read More 't any good if you can't find a spot to place a beach towel and relax for even a few minutes.

There are several hotels as this is one of the biggest tourism cities in the state. I live in an apartment complex near the middle of the city. The rent that I pay is about $900 for a two-bedroom. This is the average in the area. However, my apartment complex does have a large pool and gym area. One of the things that I like to do is get on a charter boat. Davey Dee's Charters is one of the most popular. He is a down to earth man who will take anyone on a tour. He is known for his fishig tours. I don't have children, but I do like going to the Sun Splash Waterpark when my sister visits. This is one of the best waterparks in Cape Coral. I have never seen a park that is as clean as this one. The staff is friendly, and there are activities for all ages. Most of the restaurants serve some kind of seafood. It will make you never want to see another fish again if you only eat seafood when you go out to eat. However, the food here is prepared very well.
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Moved to Cape Coral, leaving Cape Coral 2 rating By kellygoalie ( Jul 16, 2014) We moved to Cape Coral in 2012 and got a fairly good deal on a house in North Cape. The house next door has been in foreclosure since we've lived here and nobody has ever lived in the 7 year old house. There are lots of rentals in the area and most of them don't take care of th ...Read More eir property like an owner would. Crime isn't horrible in the Cape but cross the river to Ft Myers and North Ft Myers and it's bad. Home invasion is on the increase. People are not very friendly and many of them speak Spanish. Either they are not friendly or they are not willing to speak English, not sure. Restaurants on the Cape are pretty bad with very few exceptions. No Mexican food worth eating; no pizza joints with impressive pizza. Plan on using A/C for most of the year and paying about $200 a month for electricity. I don't feel safe here. Winter is usually nice weather but not a guarantee. In the winter you have all the snowbirds that cause crowds on the streets and in the stores. Good for economy but bad if you want to shop or go out to dinner on a Friday night. The population of snowbirds is too transient for my liking. Hopefully we won't have trouble selling our house here. Read Less
The peace and quiet we are looking forward to 5 rating By Marladarla1 ( Jan 15, 2013) In 2010 we bought a house in Cape Coral, sight unseen, on line through a very trustworthy real estate agent. In 2011, we visited Cape Coral for the first time and fell absolutely in love with it. It is exactly what we are looking forward to in, hopefully, the near future. We l ...Read More ive in a big city, in a small state in New England, where crime rate is extremely high, blighted buildings are a dime a dozen. It has just become unbearable to live here. We visited Cape Coral again in the summer of 2012, and I nearly cried when we had to leave. It is so clean, so peaceful, I found everyone so friendly. It is close to some of the most beautiful beaches we've seen, the weather for us is perfect, the crisp clean air we breath is amazing. My husband and I just can't wait to get out of the hell hole we live in and move permanently to our paradise! Read Less
Misleading... 2.5 rating By nursesrock74 ( Nov 11, 2012) While Cape Coral and SWFL are nice areas of the state, don't be fooled by this website. It says here that the average cost for utilities is approximately $80.00. That is false! My average electric bill while I lived there was consistantly over $200.00 each month. My sister wh ...Read More o owns a 1500 sq ft home and very frugal; always keeps her air set at an uncomfortable 78 degrees. Her bill is also over $200.00 each month. This site gives Cape Coral a very affordable cost of living. While it is not as expensive as some other areas, the information presented here is not accurate. Water bills are $125.00 and over and this is for a 2 bedroom duplex with 2 people living in the home. Food is of average cost but no tax unless it's been prepared for you already. Now, with all of this being said, remember that a huge portion of the homes in Cape Coral were foreclosed on and rental companies have bought these little gems up. So that means just about every home on most blocks is a rental property and renters do not care for a home as a home owner would. So there are lots of less then attractive areas of the city. Before the economic down turn, Cape Coral couldn't be beat, so it is sad to see this little beauty turn to the ugly step-sister. There are no jobs here as well. The unemployment rate is currently 9.1 and people are hurting. As a nurse, I had a hard time finding a decent job when I moved back to my hometown after being gone for a number of years. As a matter of fact it was so bad that we made a decision to head to Tampa for work. Much better job market here. Read Less
Cape Coral, FL - A True Waterfront Wonderland 4 rating By Anonymous ( Jun 23, 2010) Every few years, my husband and I pack up the car and head out for a road trip. In July 2009, we decided to explore the Gulf Coast of Florida. We spent a few days in Cape Coral. Our hotel, Hideaway Waterfront Resort & Hotel, was tucked away from most of the action and gave us a g ...Read More reat chance to relax. It was clean, comfortable, and had everything we needed for a nice stay. We enjoyed hanging out on the waterfront deck and fishing from the dock.

During day two of our stay in Cape Coral we had a great waterfront lunch at a restaurant called Ramrunners. The conch fritters were delicious. We went to Run Agrounds for gelato and coffee in big comfy chairs on the deck by the marina later that evening. There were lots of people to see on the boats going by. It was really neat! We visited Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve and stopped in at the Cape Smoke Shop to browse their selection of stogies. A very friendly local told us that Cape Coral has over 400 miles of canals. That's more than any other city in the world! The city of Cape Coral is a waterfront wonderland! Read Less

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Compare Cape Coral, FL Livability

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      Cape Coral, FL

      Cape Coral city is found in Lee County, and although it is not as large as Miami, it is a perfect place for anyone seeking a new environment or new job opportunities. The city is known for the spectacular seafront it offers. It also has the highest number of canals worldwide. It’s not a shocker how it got the name "Waterfront Wonderland."

      Cape Coral, FL, has a low unemployment level compared to its neighboring cities. This is facilitated by the continually rising job opportunities in different sectors, such as construction, healthcare, and education. With this, you can be sure that you will always find a way to make a living.

      Moving around Coral Cape is simple because of the vast road networks that connect the various places within the city and neighboring towns. While the use of private vehicles is the most popular mode of transport, LeeTran Bus is there to make public transport across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and other neighboring regions easily accessible. You will also love the fact that Cape Coral is a few miles from Southwest Florida International Airport, which makes getting in and out of the city very convenient. You no longer have to deal with line queues at the airport.

      The cost of living in Cape Coral is quite favorable, with daily expenses being almost similar to other towns in the USA. It is quite easy to save money because there is no state income tax. The rent charges in the city are widespread from the most expensive homes to the most modest houses to meet the needs of different people.

      Education is a top priority for many people and you can take it easy if you have a family or seeking higher education. This city is home to Lee County public school, which is among the best public schools in terms of both academia and sports. For those seeking higher education, you have a range of college and university options such as Florida Gulf Coast University and Edison State College.

      The weather in Cape Coral can, at times, be a turnoff with hurricane and flooding as the utmost threats. The summer season in this city is hot and mostly cloudy. Winter, on the other hand, is short and mostly windy. The region also experiences precipitation, but this is a rare occurrence.

      Cape Coral is a great city for all age groups, as it is filled with fun outdoor activities to suit everyone’s preference. The sun splash Family waterpark is a spectacular recreation center that is suitable for families. The waterpark has lots of fun aqua sports that entice both adults and children. Also, this city has a military museum and library. You can go there to learn the history of all the men and women that serve in the military. What’s more? Cape Coral has a range of parks such as the Four Freedoms Park, which has an ample playground space and equipment, grills, and also picnic tables.

      B+ Amenities

      Are there many local amenities in Cape Coral? Yes, there are some amenities close to this location.

      Parks

      Founder's Park
      Rubicond Park
      Four Freedoms Park
      Veterans Park
      Bernice Braden Park
      Jaycee Park
      Yacht Club Community Park
      Yacht Club Community Park

      Entertainment

      Cape Coral Arts Studio
      Cape Coral Arts Sudio
      David McCreary's House
      Marquee Cinemas Coralwood 10
      Rush Auditorium
      Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall

      Food & Drink

      McDonald's
      Palace Pub & Wine Bar
      No. 3 Craft Brews & Beer Bar
      Noela Chocolate & Confections
      DIY Yogurt
      Pedal Pub
      Subway
      Wendy's

      F Commute

      Is public transit available in Cape Coral? Of all people who commute, 0.2% take public transportation in Cape Coral.
      Drive to Work
      81%

      5% higher than the US average

      Take Public Transit
      0%

      5% lower than the US average

      Walk to Work
      1%

      2% lower than the US average

      B Health & Safety

      Is Cape Coral a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are some hospitals, police and fire stations.

      Hospitals

      Lee County VA Healthcare Center
      Cape Coral Hospital

      Pharmacies

      Walgreens
      Walmart Pharmacy
      Publix
      Walgreens
      Walgreens
      CVS Pharmacy
      CVS Pharmacy
      Walgreens

      Doctors

      Advanced Foot & Ankle Center
      Eye Centers of Florida
      Foot Care Center
      Active Life Family Chiropractic
      Lee Podiatry Group
      Wunderlich Chiropractic
      Associates in General & Vascular Surgery
      Orthopedic Assoc of SW FL