City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 87 in Garland, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 62, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Garland and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Garland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,641 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Safety is where Garland and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 41 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,641 in Garland and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
This is a genuine split. Garland wins on cost of living and Cape Coral wins on the job market and 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 Garland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Garland and Cape Coral are 983 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $217 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $78,104 in Cape Coral, up $1,784 (2%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 46 in Cape Coral, down 41 points (47%).
The move
Cape Coral and Garland are 983 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,641 a month in Garland, down $217 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $76,320 in Garland, down $1,784 (2%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 87 in Garland, up 41 points (89%).
Garland, 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 Garland and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Garland rent is 12% cheaper than Cape Coral
Garland
Winner$1,641/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,641 a month in Garland versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so Garland is 12% 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 $2,604, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Garland 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 Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Cape Coral's median income is 2% higher than Garland
Garland
$76,320
Cape Coral
Winner$78,104
Median household income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Cape Coral (about $1,784 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
47% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 47% lower than Garland
Garland
87 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 87 in Garland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% 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. Garland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Garland and Cape Coral are about even on typical weather.
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cape Coral
73°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 73°F (79°F highs). Garland sits near 66°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Garland
Garland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,641 a month. Choose Garland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Cape Coral is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% higher here ($78,104). Start with Cape Coral if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 47% lower than Garland (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
Safety is the widest gap: Cape Coral scores 84/100 versus 64/100 in Garland. Rent is $1,858/month in Cape Coral and $1,641/month in Garland, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Cape Coral still pays more locally ($78,104 median income vs $76,320), which can offset the lease if your field pays Cape Coral rates.
Median income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $76,320 in Garland.
Cape Coral is ahead on safety (84/100 vs 64/100); Garland is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,641/month rent plus $76,320 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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