Florida will see its senior population virtually explode after 2010 with the retirement of the baby boom generation.  By 2025, as many as 22 of the state's 67 counties are expected to have a senior population larger than 30 percent.  These retirees will reside in Florida only during their healthy years, as in the past, they live in the state for the first 10 to 20 years of retirement.  They move back to their home states with their children as they reach their mid-70s and are becoming increasingly frail.

The National Association of Realtors forecasts that the demographic impact alone from large numbers of people in their 40s and 50s entering the second home market could add 100,000 to 150,000 home sales each year through the end of the decade.

Demographics Cape Coral Census
Actual Population Population Projections
1980 1990 2000 2002 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025
34,167 74,991 102,286 116,159 127,740 156,298 188,200 219,607 245,637
                 
 Sector Population Growth     
          Population  Percent    
  1989 1999 2001 2002 Increase Increase    
NE 3,754 6,638 7,320 8,720 4,966 132%    
NW 388 2,343 2,900 3,842 3,454 890%    
SE 45,704 57,832 64,312 64,541 18,837 41%    
SW 13,777 28,947 33,673 39,056 25,279 183%    
Total 63,623 95,760 108,205 116,159 52,536 83%    
                 
 Gender   Median Family Income
  1980 1990 2000 2002   1980 1990 1998
Male 16,324 36,149 49,584 56,686   $19,288 $33,999 $41,442
Female 17,802 38,842 52,702 59.473   2002     
            $46,115     
Age Distribution            
Ages 2000 2002            
0-5 5.5% 5.9%            
6-13 6.5% 13.1%            
14-17 6.8% 6.3%       Median Age
18-24 5.7% 5.8%       1980  1990 2000
25-34 11.2% 13.0%       50.0  39.9 41.6
35-44 15.6% 15.5%            
45-54 13.9% 12.9%            
55-64 5.4% 9.7%            
65+ 19.6% 17.8%            
                 
Race Distribution          
Race 1980 1990 2000          
White * 99.10% 97.50% 94.4%          
Black 0.20% 1.00% 2.40%          
Indian 0.10% 0.20% 0.60%          
Asian 0.30% 0.60% 1.20%          
Other 0.30% 0.70% 2.90%          
Hispanic * 1.40% 3.70% 8.30%