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 The neighboring islands of Sanibel and Captiva, known worldwide for their shelling and natural beauty, have attracted many to the area. Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Springs, both in the south section of the county, add to the charm and nearby choices.
"With more than 400 miles of canals, Cape Coral offers affordable waterfront living for both the freshwater and saltwater enthusiast," reports the Cape Coral Association of Realtors. Cape Coral has more canals than Venice, Italy and plenty of riverfront and bayfront property as well.
In land mass, Cape Coral is the second largest city in Florida.That means there's still room to build on individual lots or in planned and/or gated communities. Existing homes are also plentiful -- and, by most standards, relatively affordable. In 1999, the median sales price of single-family, existing homes was $280,000 for the entire Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), up 8 percent from 1998. The overall price range starts at $200,000 and climbs to $4 million.
Eighty percent of Cape Coral's housing inventory is single-family,about 20 percent condominiums. Newer developments include Emerald Cove, a gated community where homes range from $250,000 to $390,000 The Hermitage, offering direct-access to the Caloosahatchee River, with homes priced from1.5 million to $3 million and Cape Harbor, a waterfront community complete with a marina and other amenities with houses priced from $550,000 - 3 million.
"Getting around " I
nterstate Highway 75 traverses Lee County in a north/south direction; in Collier County to the south, it turns east and is dubbed the Everglades Parkway, a.k.a. Alligator Alley. U.S. Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail) is the other main north/south road. It runs from Tampa to Miami, roughly paralleling I-75, although it is the older of the two highways and is both farther west--closer to the ocean--and farther south than I-75.
Transportation by water is not unusual; in fact, it's a given in Cape Coral, although used primarily for recreational rather than practical purposes. Many residents are "boatniks" -- the perfect place to live if seeking fellow sailors in love with the sea.
Seminole Gulf Railroad delivers freight to the area. Lee County Transit (LeeTran) buses drive regular routes around the county. Page Field serves general aviation; Southwest Florida International Airport offers jet service and connections to areas all over the world from its facility southeast of the city.
Cape Coral, FL
Population, town and surrounding area: 140,778
| Financial |
City Stats |
Best places
average |
Median household income
(per year) |
$47,345 |
$68,053 |
| Sales tax |
6.00% |
6.77% |
State income tax rate
(highest bracket) |
n/a* |
n/a |
State income tax rate
(lowest bracket) |
n/a* |
n/a |
Auto insurance premiums
(Average for the state) |
$817 |
$855 |
| Housing |
City Stats |
Best places
average |
| Median home price |
$310,000 |
$315,351 |
Home price gain
(2-5 year gain) |
31.65% |
14.88% |
| Education |
City Stats |
Best places
average |
Colleges, universities and
professional schools |
2 |
32 |
| Junior colleges and technical institutes |
2 |
15 |
Student to teacher ratio
(grade schools) |
21.80 |
15.37 |
| Quality of life |
City Stats |
Best places
average |
Air pollution index
(100 is national average; lower is better) |
60 |
90 |
Personal crime risk
(100 is national average; lower is better) |
51 |
69 |
Property crime risk
(100 is national average; lower is better) |
73 |
78 |
| Leisure and culture |
City Stats |
Best places
average |
Movie theaters
(within 15 miles) |
5 |
27 |
Restaurants
(within 15 miles) |
1,274 |
3,738 |
Bars
(within 15 miles) |
119 |
267 |
Golf courses
(public courses; within 30 miles) |
76 |
72 |
Libraries
(within 15 miles) |
22 |
60 |
Museums
(accredited by AAM; within 30 miles) |
|
10 |
| Weather |
City Stats |
Best places
average |
| Annual precipitation (inches) |
54.19 |
37.80 |
| High temp in July ° F |
91.70° |
86.11° |
| Low temp in Jan ° F |
54.50° |
26.60° | | |
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Annette Rubink
Realtor
239-770-4152 |
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