City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Long Beach and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Cape Coral is cheaper. Median rent is $1,858 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Safety is where Long Beach and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 141 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,871 in Long Beach and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
This is a genuine split. Long Beach wins on the job market and Cape Coral wins on cost of living 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 Long Beach has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Long Beach and Cape Coral are 2,209 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, down $13 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $78,104 in Cape Coral, down $9,326 (11%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 46 in Cape Coral, down 141 points (75%).
The move
Cape Coral and Long Beach are 2,209 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $13 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $9,326 (12%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 187 in Long Beach, up 141 points (307%).
Long Beach, CA
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 Long Beach and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Cape Coral rent is 1% cheaper than Long Beach
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Cape Coral
Winner$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,858 a month in Cape Coral versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Cape Coral is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $13, or $156 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Long Beach's median income is 12% higher than Cape Coral
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Cape Coral
$78,104
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $78,104 in Cape Coral, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Long Beach (about $9,326 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, Long Beach is the stronger labor market on paper. Cape Coral can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
75% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 75% lower than Long Beach
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 75% 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. Long Beach can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Long Beach and Cape Coral are about even on typical weather.
Long Beach
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cape Coral
72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Long Beach sits near 71°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Long Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 12% higher here ($87,430). Start with Long Beach 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 clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,858 a month. Choose Cape Coral if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
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 75% lower than Long Beach (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 41/100 in Long Beach, with matched rent near $1,858/month. I would vet the exact ZIP in Long Beach before trading 43 safety points for an identical lease.
Median income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $78,104 in Cape Coral — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Pick Cape Coral when you want the stronger safety signal (84/100). Otherwise, Long Beach's case rests on a Long Beach ZIP you trust at $1,871 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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