City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 91 in Madison, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 68, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Madison and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Madison and Cape Coral. Madison averages 48°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 $1,413 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. Madison 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. Madison at $1,413 average has pockets that run $1,213 and others at $1,813: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Madison and Cape Coral are 1,215 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $445 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $78,104 in Cape Coral, up $54 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 46 in Cape Coral, down 45 points (49%).
The move
Cape Coral and Madison are 1,215 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $445 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $78,050 in Madison, down $54 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 91 in Madison, up 45 points (98%).
Madison, WI
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 Madison and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
Madison rent is 24% cheaper than Cape Coral
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so Madison is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $445/month back in your pocket ($5,340/year). Over five years that's $26,700 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, Madison 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
1% higher
Cape Coral's median income is 1% higher than Madison
Madison
$78,050
Cape Coral
Winner$78,104
Median household income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Cape Coral (about $54 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
49% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 49% lower than Madison
Madison
91 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 91 in Madison (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 49% 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. Madison can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
92% more comfortable
Cape Coral weather is 92% more comfortable than Madison
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
Cape Coral
Winner73°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 73°F (79°F highs). Madison averages around 48°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 92% 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 Madison 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 Madison
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 24% cheaper here at about $1,413 a month. Choose Madison 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 1% 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 49% lower than Madison (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 63/100 in Madison. Rent is $1,858/month in Cape Coral and $1,413/month in Madison, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (84/100 in Cape Coral vs 63/100 in Madison), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,413 in Madison and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Between Madison and Cape Coral, Cape Coral is ahead on safety — 84/100 safety versus 63/100. Lean Madison instead when you already know the Madison block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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