City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Austin and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Austin is cheaper. Median rent is $1,729 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Safety is where Austin and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 116 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
This is a genuine split. Austin wins on cost of living and the job market and Cape Coral wins on safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Cape Coral has rougher pockets and Austin has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Austin and Cape Coral are 992 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $129 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $78,104 in Cape Coral, down $15,554 (17%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 46 in Cape Coral, down 116 points (72%).
The move
Cape Coral and Austin are 992 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,729 a month in Austin, down $129 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $93,658 in Austin, up $15,554 (20%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 162 in Austin, up 116 points (252%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cape Coral, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Austin rent is 7% cheaper than Cape Coral
Austin
Winner$1,729/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,729 a month in Austin versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so Austin is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $129, or $1,548 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Austin's median income is 20% higher than Cape Coral
Austin
Winner$93,658
Cape Coral
$78,104
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $78,104 in Cape Coral, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Austin (about $15,554 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. Cape Coral can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
72% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 72% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 72% lower in Cape Coral. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Cape Coral is the easier city. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Austin and Cape Coral are about even on typical weather.
Austin
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cape Coral
73°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 73°F (79°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cape Coral sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Austin is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,729 a month. Choose Austin if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 20% higher here ($93,658). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Cape Coral is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 72% lower than Austin (46 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Austin carries the heavier crime signal on this page (45/100 safety vs 84/100 in Cape Coral). That 39-point spread matters more than the $129 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
With only $129 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,729 in Austin and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Pick Cape Coral when you want the stronger safety signal (84/100). Otherwise, Austin's case rests on a Austin ZIP you trust at $1,729 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Austin when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Cape Coral, plus other cities in TX and FL.
