City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 209 in Louisville, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Louisville and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Louisville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,120 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Safety is where Louisville and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 163 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,120 in Louisville and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
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. Louisville 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. Louisville at $1,120 average has pockets that run $920 and others at $1,520: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Louisville and Cape Coral are 838 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,120 a month in Louisville to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $738 a month (66%).
Median household income goes from $66,849 in Louisville to $78,104 in Cape Coral, up $11,255 (17%).
The crime index goes from 209 in Louisville to 46 in Cape Coral, down 163 points (78%).
The move
Cape Coral and Louisville are 838 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,120 a month in Louisville, down $738 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $66,849 in Louisville, down $11,255 (14%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 209 in Louisville, up 163 points (354%).
Louisville, 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 Louisville and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
40% cheaper
Louisville rent is 40% cheaper than Cape Coral
Louisville
Winner$1,120/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,120 a month in Louisville versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so Louisville is 40% cheaper. That's roughly $738/month back in your pocket ($8,856/year). Over five years that's $44,280 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, Louisville 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
17% higher
Cape Coral's median income is 17% higher than Louisville
Louisville
$66,849
Cape Coral
Winner$78,104
Median household income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $66,849 in Louisville, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Cape Coral (about $11,255 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. Louisville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
78% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 78% lower than Louisville
Louisville
209 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 209 in Louisville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 78% 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. Louisville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Cape Coral weather is 33% more comfortable than Louisville
Louisville
56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Cape Coral
Winner72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Louisville averages about 56°F (65°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Louisville averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Cape Coral sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cape Coral scores 33% 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 Louisville 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 Louisville
Louisville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 40% cheaper here at about $1,120 a month. Choose Louisville 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 17% higher ($78,104), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 72°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 78% lower than Louisville (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 38/100 in Louisville, with typical rent at $1,858 versus $1,120. I would vet the exact ZIP in Louisville before trading 46 safety points for housing savings.
Cape Coral still pays more locally ($78,104 median income vs $66,849), which can offset the lease if your field pays Cape Coral rates.
Weather averages land near 56°F in Louisville and 72°F in Cape Coral.
If safety drives your move, Cape Coral is the stronger match (84/100 safety versus 38/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Louisville, treat $1,120/month rent and $66,849 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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