Cape Coral, FL Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Cape Coral, FL: What You Need to Know

Cape Coral is a master-planned city in southwest Florida. It has over 400 miles of canals – more than Venice, Italy, or any other place in the world.

The Local History

The area was originally inhabited by the Calusa tribe. Spain ceded Florida to the United States in 1821, and the following year, Florida was organized as a U.S. territory. However, the history of Cape Coral began in 1957 when brothers Leonard and Jack Rosen of Baltimore bought 103 square miles of land called Redfish Point. In 1958, the development of the area began, including digging out canals and using the earth to build up the land to the required elevation above sea level. The brothers started selling lots almost immediately. The city was incorporated in 1970.

The Cost of Living in Cape Coral

As if Cape Coral’s coastline beauty isn’t enough, it’s also an affordable place to live in. The city’s cost of living rate, food, and housing costs are 3.2%, 14.3%, and 6.4% lower than the national average respectively. Cape Coral’s median gross rent is $1,172; the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,000. The Sunshine State doesn’t have any income tax, but it levies 6% to 8.50% in sales tax.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Cape Coral (population: 194,495) is known as the Waterfront Wonderland, so gorgeous beaches are among the perks of living in the city, popular among retirees. Cape Coral is considered a suburb of Fort Myers, only seven miles away. They are both in Lee County. For families with school-age children, Whiskey Creek and Three Oaks are good choices for their top-ranked schools.

Weather and Climate

Hurricanes and tropical storms in Florida typically occur in August and September. Hurricane Charley was no different. It hit Cape Coral on Aug. 13, 2004, with winds of over 120 miles per hour. The hurricane toppled trees, flooded streets, caused power outages, and about $3 billion in damages in Lee County. Barring any storms, Cape Coral usually gets 53 inches of rain per year versus the national average of 38 inches. At least, it doesn’t snow in Cape Coral plus it enjoys 265 sunny days annually compared with the U.S. average of 205 sunny days.

Shopping in Town

There are plenty of shopping centers and strip malls to choose from in Cape Coral. Coralwood Shopping Center and Coralpointe feature national retailers and brands. At Shops at Surfside, you’ll find locally-owned shops, trendy restaurants, real estate agencies, and other services.