Cape Coral ranks high for retirees, but growth brings pressure

CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Cape Coral is once again getting national recognition as a place people want to live and retire, but neighbors say maintaining that appeal will depend on how the city handles continued growth. 

WalletHub ranked Cape Coral the 13th-best city in the country for retirees out of more than 180 cities studied. The ranking examined 45 factors ranging from affordability and activities to quality of life and health care. Cape Coral ranked 14th for affordability, 72nd for activities, 26th for quality of life and 82nd for health care.

For many people who chose to move to Cape Coral, the reasons behind the ranking are easy to understand. Pat Dunlap moved to Cape Coral with his wife in 2013 after retiring several years earlier.

“We shoveled snow all our lives, and I liked the idea of being around the warm weather all the time,” Dunlap said.

He said Cape Coral’s quiet neighborhoods and sense of safety are also part of what has kept him here. Dennis Halcomb, who owns property in Cape Coral and spends time in the city, said the ranking did not surprise him.

“My feeling on it, it’s number one to retire in,” Halcomb said.

He pointed to the city’s restaurants, activities and atmosphere as reasons retirees are drawn to the area. Linda Cram moved to Cape Coral about seven years ago.

“We moved here ’cause it was more affordable to where we lived before, and we were able to live on water, which is fantastic,” Cram said.

Cram also pointed to Cape Coral’s parks, pickleball and tennis facilities and locally owned restaurants as part of the city’s appeal. The WalletHub ranking is not the only sign this year that people are interested in moving to Cape Coral. Earlier this year, moveBuddha ranked Cape Coral third nationally for inbound moving demand, finding about 1.8 people looking to move into the area for every one looking to leave.

Dunlap said traffic remains one of his biggest concerns. “Traffic. Traffic is pretty in the mornings if you have an appointment over in Fort Myers, forget going across the bridge at 9:00 or 8:00,” he said.

Other neighbors said they support continued growth but do not want Cape Coral to lose the characteristics that attracted them in the first place.

“I do like to see the growth coming in,” Megan Hill said. “Not too big like some of the other cities.”

Health care was another category where Cape Coral ranked lower in WalletHub’s study. Lee Health is expanding its presence in the city with a new 100,000-square-foot ambulatory facility off Veterans Memorial Parkway. The facility is expected to add services including imaging, cardiology, oncology and orthopedics, while employing an additional 100 to 150 people. It is expected to be completed in fall 2027.

The conversation about Cape Coral’s future also comes as voters prepare to choose a new mayor and new council members. Cram said she wants elected leaders who focus on the people they represent.

“Somebody that’s looking out for the people, their constituents rather than big business and putting money in their pockets,” Cram said.

The City Council also faced community pushback earlier this year over a proposed pay increase. Council members later killed the plan during a special meeting, citing concerns about timing and public perception.

Cape Coral’s growth is not new, but neighbors say the challenge now is making sure roads, health care and other services grow along with the population. For people already living there, the ranking may be another sign that Cape Coral remains desirable. The bigger question is whether the city can preserve that appeal as more people continue to move in.