Arlington TX vs Cape Coral FL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Arlington, TX

Texas · Population: 394,769

  • Median HH Income$73,519
  • Median Home Price$313,683
  • Unemployment5.7%
  • Bachelor's+33.1%

Cape Coral, FL

Florida · Population: 206,387

  • Median HH Income$76,062
  • Median Home Price$339,638
  • Unemployment4.1%
  • Bachelor's+25.7%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Arlington
394,769
Arlington +
Cape Coral
206,387
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Arlington
N/A
Cape Coral
N/A
Median Age
Arlington
33.6
Arlington +
Cape Coral
48.7
Foreign Born
Arlington
21.3%
Arlington +
Cape Coral
17.9%
White
Arlington
43.2%
Cape Coral
72.9%
Cape Coral +
Black
Arlington
22.4%
Arlington +
Cape Coral
4.5%
Asian
Arlington
7.3%
Arlington +
Cape Coral
1.6%
Hispanic
Arlington
31.0%
Arlington +
Cape Coral
25.1%
Spanish at Home
Arlington
N/A
Cape Coral
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Arlington
$73,519
Cape Coral
$76,062
Cape Coral +
Per Capita Income
Arlington
$35,226
Cape Coral
$39,603
Cape Coral +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Arlington
$63,758
Cape Coral
$65,328
Cape Coral +
Unemployment Rate
Arlington
5.7%
Cape Coral
4.1%
Cape Coral +
Poverty Rate
Arlington
13.1%
Cape Coral
9.8%
Cape Coral +
Bachelor's Degree+
Arlington
33.1%
Arlington +
Cape Coral
25.7%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Arlington
$313,683
Arlington +
Cape Coral
$339,638
Homeownership Rate
Arlington
54.8%
Cape Coral
77.7%
Cape Coral +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Arlington
442
Cape Coral
324
Cape Coral +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Arlington
2339
Cape Coral
1453
Cape Coral +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Arlington
33.8%
Cape Coral
30.6%
Cape Coral +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Arlington
12.0%
Arlington +
Cape Coral
13.4%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Arlington
18.2%
Cape Coral
15.5%
Cape Coral +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Arlington
18.4%
Cape Coral
14.4%
Cape Coral +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Arlington
16.0%
Cape Coral
15.1%
Cape Coral +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Arlington
13.3%
Cape Coral
12.6%
Cape Coral +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Arlington
65.4°F
Cape Coral
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Arlington
39.6 in
Cape Coral
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Arlington
9.2 µg/m³
Cape Coral
7.2 µg/m³
Cape Coral +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Arlington
55.0%
Cape Coral
75.0%
Cape Coral +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Arlington
29.0 min
Arlington +
Cape Coral
31.1 min

Which City is Right for You?

Cape Coral leads in median household income at $76,062, while arlington offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $313,683. On public safety, Cape Coral is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in Arlington. Cape Coral has a lower unemployment rate at 4.1%, and Cape Coral has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Cape Coral scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.6%.

Compare More Cities

About Arlington & Cape Coral