City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Oakland and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Cape Coral is cheaper. Median rent is $1,858 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
Safety is where Oakland and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 388 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,979 in Oakland and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
This is a genuine split. Oakland 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 Oakland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oakland and Cape Coral are 2,461 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, down $121 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $78,104 in Cape Coral, down $23,496 (23%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 46 in Cape Coral, down 388 points (89%).
The move
Cape Coral and Oakland are 2,461 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $121 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $101,600 in Oakland, up $23,496 (30%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 434 in Oakland, up 388 points (843%).
Oakland, 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 Oakland and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Cape Coral rent is 6% cheaper than Oakland
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Cape Coral
Winner$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,858 a month in Cape Coral versus $1,979 in Oakland, so Cape Coral is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $121, or $1,452 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
30% higher
Oakland's median income is 30% higher than Cape Coral
Oakland
Winner$101,600
Cape Coral
$78,104
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $78,104 in Cape Coral, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Oakland (about $23,496 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, Oakland 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
89% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 89% lower than Oakland
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 89% 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. Oakland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Oakland and Cape Coral are about even on typical weather.
Oakland
68°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cape Coral
73°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oakland averages about 68°F (80°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 73°F (79°F highs). Oakland sits near 68°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
Oakland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 30% higher here ($101,600). Start with Oakland 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 6% 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 89% lower than Oakland (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
Oakland carries the heavier crime signal on this page (15/100 safety vs 84/100 in Cape Coral). That 69-point spread matters more than the $121 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Cape Coral rent at $1,858/month is still below Oakland's $1,979, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,858 in Cape Coral and $1,979 in Oakland.
Cape Coral clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Oakland deserves a serious look only when you already know the Oakland 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
Open full neighborhood reports for Oakland and Cape Coral, plus other cities in CA and FL.
