Cape Coral FL vs Sandy UT — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

Cape Coral, FL

Florida · Population: 206,387

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

Sandy, UT

Utah · Population: 94,723

  • Median HH Income$111,242
  • Median Home Price$672,082
  • Unemployment2.5%
  • Bachelor's+45.7%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Cape Coral
206,387
Cape Coral +
Sandy
94,723
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Cape Coral
N/A
Sandy
N/A
Median Age
Cape Coral
48.7
Sandy
36.9
Sandy +
Foreign Born
Cape Coral
17.9%
Cape Coral +
Sandy
10.3%
White
Cape Coral
72.9%
Sandy
81.8%
Sandy +
Black
Cape Coral
4.5%
Cape Coral +
Sandy
0.8%
Asian
Cape Coral
1.6%
Sandy
3.5%
Sandy +
Hispanic
Cape Coral
25.1%
Cape Coral +
Sandy
11.3%
Spanish at Home
Cape Coral
N/A
Sandy
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Cape Coral
$76,062
Sandy
$111,242
Sandy +
Per Capita Income
Cape Coral
$39,603
Sandy
$50,592
Sandy +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Cape Coral
$65,328
Cape Coral +
Sandy
$60,713
Unemployment Rate
Cape Coral
4.1%
Sandy
2.5%
Sandy +
Poverty Rate
Cape Coral
9.8%
Sandy
5.5%
Sandy +
Bachelor's Degree+
Cape Coral
25.7%
Sandy
45.7%
Sandy +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Cape Coral
$339,638
Cape Coral +
Sandy
$672,082
Homeownership Rate
Cape Coral
77.7%
Cape Coral +
Sandy
75.9%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cape Coral
324
Sandy
245
Sandy +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cape Coral
1453
Cape Coral +
Sandy
1931

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Cape Coral
30.6%
Sandy
28.5%
Sandy +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Cape Coral
13.4%
Sandy
8.4%
Sandy +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Cape Coral
15.5%
Cape Coral +
Sandy
16.5%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Cape Coral
14.4%
Sandy
8.7%
Sandy +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Cape Coral
15.1%
Cape Coral +
Sandy
15.2%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Cape Coral
12.6%
Sandy
7.4%
Sandy +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cape Coral
N/A
Sandy
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cape Coral
N/A
Sandy
N/A

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Cape Coral
31.1 min
Sandy
24.6 min
Sandy +

Which City is Right for You?

Sandy leads in median household income at $111,242, while cape Coral offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $339,638. On public safety, Sandy is safer with a violent crime rate of 245 per 100,000 residents, compared to 324 in Cape Coral. Sandy has a lower unemployment rate at 2.5%, and Sandy has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.0 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Sandy scores better with a lower obesity rate of 28.5%.

Compare More Cities

About Cape Coral & Sandy