Cape Coral FL vs St. Charles MO — 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%

St. Charles, MO

Missouri · Population: 71,542

  • Median HH Income$55,578
  • Median Home Price$144,200
  • Unemployment4.7%
  • Bachelor's+22.7%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Cape Coral
206,387
Cape Coral +
St. Charles
71,542
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Cape Coral
N/A
St. Charles
N/A
Median Age
Cape Coral
48.7
St. Charles
37.9
St. Charles +
Foreign Born
Cape Coral
17.9%
Cape Coral +
St. Charles
4.2%
White
Cape Coral
72.9%
St. Charles
80.4%
St. Charles +
Black
Cape Coral
4.5%
St. Charles
6.7%
St. Charles +
Asian
Cape Coral
1.6%
Cape Coral +
St. Charles
1.4%
Hispanic
Cape Coral
25.1%
Cape Coral +
St. Charles
7.7%
Spanish at Home
Cape Coral
N/A
St. Charles
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Cape Coral
$76,062
Cape Coral +
St. Charles
$55,578
Per Capita Income
Cape Coral
$39,603
Cape Coral +
St. Charles
$31,499
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Cape Coral
$65,328
Cape Coral +
St. Charles
$58,527
Unemployment Rate
Cape Coral
4.1%
Cape Coral +
St. Charles
4.7%
Poverty Rate
Cape Coral
9.8%
Cape Coral +
St. Charles
18.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
Cape Coral
25.7%
Cape Coral +
St. Charles
22.7%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Cape Coral
$339,638
St. Charles
$144,200
St. Charles +
Homeownership Rate
Cape Coral
77.7%
Cape Coral +
St. Charles
61.4%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cape Coral
324
Cape Coral +
St. Charles
501
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cape Coral
1453
Cape Coral +
St. Charles
2418

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Cape Coral
30.6%
Cape Coral +
St. Charles
35.9%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Cape Coral
13.4%
St. Charles
10.4%
St. Charles +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Cape Coral
15.5%
Cape Coral +
St. Charles
16.0%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Cape Coral
14.4%
St. Charles
7.1%
St. Charles +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Cape Coral
15.1%
Cape Coral +
St. Charles
18.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Cape Coral
12.6%
St. Charles
12.5%
St. Charles +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cape Coral
N/A
St. Charles
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cape Coral
N/A
St. Charles
N/A

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Cape Coral
31.1 min
St. Charles
18.3 min
St. Charles +

Which City is Right for You?

Cape Coral leads in median household income at $76,062, while st. Charles offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $144,200. On public safety, Cape Coral is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 501 in St. Charles. 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 Cape Coral & St. Charles