Relocation profile · Federal data
Punta Gorda, FL
LiveAbility 37.7/100 places Punta Gorda #340 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).
- 100.5
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,470
- 2BR rent / mo
- $60,552
- Median salary
- 37.7
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Punta Gorda ranks #340 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (37.7/100), with its strongest marks in safety and climate.
- #340
- of 387 US metros · Below median
- 23,372,215
- metro-area population
- 210
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 4,029
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: schools (14/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Punta Gorda ranks #340 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 100.5 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,470/mo, median salary $60,552; LiveAbility Score 37.7/100, strongest in safety and climate.
Signature: LiveAbility 37.7/100 places Punta Gorda #340 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 100.5 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,470/mo.
LiveAbility 37.7/100 puts Punta Gorda in the bottom third (#340 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Punta Gorda area is 49,740.
Punta Gorda vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
38 Top 88% higher than 12% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Punta Gorda housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Punta Gorda MSA; housing RPP 113.3 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,470/mo.
Punta Gorda wages and employment
Punta Gorda posts 49,740 total employment with median salary $60,552 against a dearer-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | $34,290 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,360 |
| Cashiers | $30,770 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,100 |
| Registered Nurses | $80,410 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Punta Gorda area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Punta Gorda area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Punta Gorda's composite Life Score is 43.2/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Punta Gorda ranks #340 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 37.7/100 - a composite of 7 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data (missing dims omitted; remaining weights renormalized). Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Punta Gorda - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Safety
Safety
84 /100
- Climate
Climate
65 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
55 /100
- Housing 33
Housing
33 /100
- Cost of living 20
Cost of living
20 /100
- Job market 19
Job market
19 /100
- Schools 14
Schools
14 /100
What this shows Punta Gorda's strongest dimensions are safety and climate; its weakest among scored dims is schools at 14/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%; this metro uses 7 of 8 dims with renormalized weights.
Compare Punta Gorda to
Metros near Punta Gorda on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Punta Gorda on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Punta Gorda cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Punta Gorda wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Punta Gorda?
Punta Gorda runs a $60,552 median salary at a 100.5 cost index, ranking #340 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Punta Gorda's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Punta Gorda head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Punta Gorda
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.