City vs city
Cape Coral, FL vs Des Moines, IA
- Rent is 70% lower in Des Moines (median $1,090/mo vs $1,858/mo in Cape Coral).
- Homes cost 92% less in Des Moines ($195k vs $374k median value).
- On a $75k salary, you'd have about $581 more a month after taxes and rent in Des Moines.
- Cape Coral has no state income tax on wages; Des Moines does.
- Schools rate higher in Cape Coral (5.8/10 vs 2.1/10).
- Cape Coral has less violent crime (1.2 vs 6.4 per 1,000 residents; the US rate is 3.6).
- Cape Coral has milder winters (65°F vs 22°F average).
- Cape Coral gets more sun (235 vs 202 sunny days a year).
| Cape Coral | Des Moines | |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,858/mo | $1,090/mo |
| Median home value | $374k | $195k |
| Median household income | $78k | $66k |
| Left each month on $75k (after taxes and rent) | $3,275 | $3,856 |
| State income tax on wages | None | Yes |
| School rating | 5.8/10 | 2.1/10 |
| Violent crime | 67% below the US rate | 1.8× the US rate |
| Summer average | 92°F | 86°F |
| Winter average | 65°F | 22°F |
| Sunny days a year | 235 | 202 |
| Walk score | 34 | 45 |
| Population | 215,536 | 212,421 |
Population, income, home value and rent: U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Taxes: single filer, 2026 federal and state rates, before any city income tax. Violent crime per 1,000 residents; US rate 3.6.
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