Orlando, FL vs Cape Coral, FL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Orlando, FL outspends Cape Coral, FL by a wide margin per resident — $31,123 versus $14,436, a 116% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Orlando, FL edges Cape Coral, FL on the Fiscal Health Score by 4 points — 73/100 (grade B) to 69/100 (grade B). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
Orlando, FL reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Cape Coral, FL carries $2,046 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Orlando, FL at $5,632 per resident and in Cape Coral, FL at $3,232.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 22% of total revenue in Orlando, FL and 7% in Cape Coral, FL.
Summary
Orlando spends 115.6% more per capita than Cape Coral ($16,687/person difference). Orlando, FL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 73/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $2,492 | $384 |
| Income Tax | $1,219 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $432 | $177 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $1,811 |
| Other | $6,520 | $3,015 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $5,632 | $3,232 |
| Education | $0 | $1,446 |
| Public Welfare | $628 | $699 |
| Hospitals | $775 | $15 |
| Parks & Recreation | $4,107 | $952 |
| Housing | $5,645 | $2,474 |
| Sewerage | $585 | $465 |
| Utilities | $1,262 | $481 |
| Other | $12,489 | $4,672 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.