01 · the cities
Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is a three-mile boardwalk, a giant Neptune statue keeping watch, and Atlantic surf that's warm in August and gentle in September. The military presence (Navy and Air Force) gives the city a structured, welcoming feel. False Cape and Back Bay nature areas are wild marshland just south of the high-rises. October on the boardwalk might be the prettiest month on the East Coast.
full dispatch→Cape Coral
Cape Coral has over 400 miles of navigable canals, more than any city in the world, which means many homes literally have boat docks in the backyard. It's a planned community that grew up around water, with easy access to the Caloosahatchee River and the Gulf. The boating, fishing, and manatee-watching are the main events. It's flat, sunny, and built for waterfront life.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,819/mo
$1,859/mo
Median home price
Median home price
$375k
$355k
$20k less than Virginia Beach
State income tax
State income tax
5.8%
0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,035/mo
$6,474/mo
Cape Coral has $439/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
211 days
250 days
39 more than Virginia Beach
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
2 days
0 days
days below 20°F per year
Cape Coral edges ahead on pleasant days, but both cities have comparable comfort overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
57 / 100
55 / 100
2.0 pts behind Virginia Beach
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
17 routes
33 routes
16 more direct routes than Virginia Beach
Metro size
Metro size
1.8M metro
835k metro
the verdict
1
Virginia Beach
categories won
5
Cape Coral
categories won
Cape Coral wins this comparison, leading on money and weather.
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