City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Houston and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Safety is where Houston and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 224 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,361 in Houston and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
This is a genuine split. Houston 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Houston at $1,361 average has pockets that run $1,161 and others at $1,761: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Houston and Cape Coral are 846 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $497 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $78,104 in Cape Coral, up $13,291 (21%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 46 in Cape Coral, down 224 points (83%).
The move
Cape Coral and Houston are 846 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $497 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $64,813 in Houston, down $13,291 (17%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 270 in Houston, up 224 points (487%).
Houston, 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 Houston and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
Houston rent is 27% cheaper than Cape Coral
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so Houston is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $497/month back in your pocket ($5,964/year). Over five years that's $29,820 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Cape Coral, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Houston is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
21% higher
Cape Coral's median income is 21% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Cape Coral
Winner$78,104
Median household income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 21% higher in Cape Coral (about $13,291 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, Cape Coral is the stronger labor market on paper. Houston can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
83% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 83% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 83% 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. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Houston and Cape Coral are about even on typical weather.
Houston
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cape Coral
72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Houston sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cape Coral sits near 72°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 Houston
Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 27% cheaper here at about $1,361 a month. Choose Houston 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 21% 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 83% lower than Houston (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Cape Coral: Cape Coral scores 84/100 versus 30/100 in Houston, with typical rent at $1,858 versus $1,361. I would vet the exact ZIP in Houston before trading 54 safety points for housing savings.
Cape Coral still pays more locally ($78,104 median income vs $64,813), which can offset the lease if your field pays Cape Coral rates.
Median income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $64,813 in Houston.
Pick Cape Coral when you want the stronger safety signal (84/100). Otherwise, Houston's case rests on a Houston ZIP you trust at $1,361 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Cape Coral, plus other cities in TX and FL.
