City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 99 in Irving, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 78, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Irving and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Irving is cheaper. Median rent is $1,619 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Safety is where Irving and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 53 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,619 in Irving and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
This is a genuine split. Irving 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 Irving has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Irving and Cape Coral are 997 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $239 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $78,104 in Cape Coral, down $3,726 (5%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 46 in Cape Coral, down 53 points (54%).
The move
Cape Coral and Irving are 997 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,619 a month in Irving, down $239 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $81,830 in Irving, up $3,726 (5%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 99 in Irving, up 53 points (115%).
Irving, 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 Irving and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Irving rent is 13% cheaper than Cape Coral
Irving
Winner$1,619/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,619 a month in Irving versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so Irving is 13% 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 $2,868, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Irving 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 Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Irving's median income is 5% higher than Cape Coral
Irving
Winner$81,830
Cape Coral
$78,104
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $78,104 in Cape Coral, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Irving (about $3,726 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
54% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 54% lower than Irving
Irving
99 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 99 in Irving (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 54% 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. Irving can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Irving and Cape Coral are about even on typical weather.
Irving
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cape Coral
73°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 73°F (79°F highs). Irving sits near 70°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
Irving is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,619 a month. Choose Irving if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Irving is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 5% higher here ($81,830). Start with Irving 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 54% lower than Irving (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 60/100 in Irving. Rent is $1,858/month in Cape Coral and $1,619/month in Irving, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (84/100 in Cape Coral vs 60/100 in Irving), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $81,830 in Irving versus $78,104 in Cape Coral.
Between Irving and Cape Coral, Cape Coral is ahead on safety — 84/100 safety versus 60/100. Lean Irving instead when you already know the Irving block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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