City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 102 in Lexington, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 72, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Lexington and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Lexington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,164 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Lexington and Cape Coral. Lexington averages 52°F while Cape Coral averages 73°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,164 versus $1,858.
Cape Coral is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Lexington makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Cape Coral is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Lexington at $1,164 average has pockets that run $964 and others at $1,564: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Lexington and Cape Coral are 803 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,164 a month in Lexington to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $694 a month (60%).
Median household income goes from $69,479 in Lexington to $78,104 in Cape Coral, up $8,625 (12%).
The crime index goes from 102 in Lexington to 46 in Cape Coral, down 56 points (55%).
The move
Cape Coral and Lexington are 803 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,164 a month in Lexington, down $694 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $69,479 in Lexington, down $8,625 (11%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 102 in Lexington, up 56 points (122%).
Lexington, KY
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 Lexington and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
37% cheaper
Lexington rent is 37% cheaper than Cape Coral
Lexington
Winner$1,164/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,164 a month in Lexington versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so Lexington is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $694/month back in your pocket ($8,328/year). Over five years that's $41,640 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, Lexington 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
12% higher
Cape Coral's median income is 12% higher than Lexington
Lexington
$69,479
Cape Coral
Winner$78,104
Median household income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $69,479 in Lexington, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Cape Coral (about $8,625 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. Lexington can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
55% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 55% lower than Lexington
Lexington
102 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 102 in Lexington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 55% 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. Lexington can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
Cape Coral weather is 56% more comfortable than Lexington
Lexington
52°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 64/100
Cape Coral
Winner73°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lexington averages about 52°F (63°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 73°F (79°F highs). Lexington averages around 52°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 56% 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 Lexington if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Lexington
Lexington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 37% cheaper here at about $1,164 a month. Choose Lexington 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 12% higher ($78,104), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 73°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 55% lower than Lexington (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
Lexington carries the heavier crime signal on this page (59/100 safety vs 84/100 in Cape Coral). That 25-point spread matters more than the $694 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Cape Coral still pays more locally ($78,104 median income vs $69,479), which can offset the lease if your field pays Cape Coral rates.
Weather averages land near 52°F in Lexington and 73°F in Cape Coral.
Cape Coral clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Lexington deserves a serious look only when you already know the Lexington block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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