City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Durham and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Safety is where Durham and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 147 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,508 in Durham and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Durham is the easier city on typical rent, but Cape Coral can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Durham at $1,508 average has pockets that run $1,308 and others at $1,908: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Durham and Cape Coral are 676 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $350 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $78,104 in Cape Coral, down $3,515 (4%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 46 in Cape Coral, down 147 points (76%).
The move
Cape Coral and Durham are 676 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $350 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $81,619 in Durham, up $3,515 (5%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 193 in Durham, up 147 points (320%).
Durham, NC
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 Durham and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Durham rent is 19% cheaper than Cape Coral
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so Durham is 19% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,200, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Durham still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Cape Coral.
Planning to buy in Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Durham's median income is 5% higher than Cape Coral
Durham
Winner$81,619
Cape Coral
$78,104
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $78,104 in Cape Coral, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Durham (about $3,515 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
76% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 76% lower than Durham
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 76% 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. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Cape Coral weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Cape Coral
Winner73°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 73°F (79°F highs). Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Cape Coral sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cape Coral scores 20% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Durham if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,508 a month. Choose Durham if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Durham is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 5% higher here ($81,619). Start with Durham if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Cape Coral if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 20%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Cape Coral is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 76% lower than Durham (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
Durham carries the heavier crime signal on this page (40/100 safety vs 84/100 in Cape Coral). That 44-point spread matters more than the $350 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (84/100 in Cape Coral vs 40/100 in Durham), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Durham and 73°F in Cape Coral.
Pick Cape Coral when you want the stronger safety signal (84/100). Otherwise, Durham's case rests on a Durham ZIP you trust at $1,508 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Durham when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Durham and Cape Coral, plus other cities in NC and FL.
