Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach vs Cape Coral-Fort Myers
Which is the better fit for you?
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach 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 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | Cape Coral-Fort Myers | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,249,291 | 817,666 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $76,527 | $76,107 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $43,766 | $44,931 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,233/sq mi | 1,047/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $443,300 | $362,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,869 | $1,712 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 60.5% | 74.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 5.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.7% | 31.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 12.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 20,532 | 11,074 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.3 | 13.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 6.7% | -29.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 59°F | 54°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 62.0" | 57.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 18 mi | 14 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.7 min | 31.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.8 | 49.0 | 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
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Cape Coral-Fort Myers
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, coastal flooding.
Your best match
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Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL Metro Area · Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology