Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Cape Coral to Los Angeles
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Cape Coral has a lower median home value ($373,500 vs $921,200) and slightly lower median gross rent ($1,858 vs $1,933) than Los Angeles, but also a lower median household income ($78,104 vs $81,939). Commute times are nearly identical at 32 and 33 minutes respectively. Los Angeles applies a modeled 9.30% state income tax in the calculator, while Cape Coral’s state tax is excluded due to lack of approved reference. These factors create a trade-off where Los Angeles offers higher income and rent but significantly higher home values and tax exposure, whereas Cape Coral provides more affordable homeownership relative to income, with comparable commutes and no modeled state tax burden in the assessment.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Los Angeles → Cape CoralMoving from Cape Coral to Los Angeles
Median Rent Impact
+$75/mo
Moving to Los Angeles costs ~$900 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+9.3%
~$9,300 more state tax on a $100k salary in California.
Daily Commute Difference
+1 min / day
Difference of ~8 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTCAP → LAX
51/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$1,068after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's
Watch closelyA $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal California tax reference
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Cape Coral is about $900 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Cape Coral household income$78,104
Los Angeles household income$81,939
Cape Coral gross rent$1,858
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Cape Coral | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 215,536 | 3,857,263 |
| Median household income | $78,104 | $81,939 |
| Median gross rent | $1,858 | $1,933 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $373,500 | $921,200 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 9.3% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 32 minutes in Cape Coral and 33 minutes in Los Angeles. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Median home value
- Median gross rent
- Median household income
- One-way commute time
- Modeled state income tax
What each city wins
Cape Coral
Median rent consumes ~28.5% of median income.. Watch lower home values may offset higher rent burdens for owners..
Los Angeles
A large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's. Watch a $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal california tax reference.
Frequently asked questions
How does home affordability compare between the two cities relative to income?
Cape Coral’s median home value is about 4.8 times its median household income, while Los Angeles’ is about 11.2 times, indicating significantly greater home purchase affordability in Cape Coral relative to earnings.
What role does the modeled state income tax play in the comparison?
The calculator applies a 9.30% state income tax rate for Los Angeles as a modeling assumption, while no state tax is applied for Cape Coral due to lack of approved reference, affecting net income comparisons in the assessment.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.