North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Cape Coral-Fort Myers | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 817,666 | 889,339 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $76,107 | $80,859 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $44,931 | $52,393 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,047/sq mi | 685/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $362,200 | $402,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,712 | $1,747 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 74.3% | 75.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 4.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.7% | 0.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.2% | 38.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 9.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 11,074 | 16,480 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 13.5 | 18.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -29.5% | 11.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 54°F | 52°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 57.4" | 49.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.5 min | 27.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 49.0 | 53.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Cape Coral-Fort Myers
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, coastal flooding.
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, coastal flooding.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL Metro Area · North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology