City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 62 in Plano, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 43, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Plano and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Plano is cheaper. Median rent is $1,841 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
The income gap between Plano and Cape Coral is significant: $112,253 median household versus $78,104. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,841 in Plano and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
This is a genuine split. Plano wins on cost of living and the job market and Cape Coral wins on 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 Plano has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Plano and Cape Coral are 989 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $17 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $78,104 in Cape Coral, down $34,149 (30%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 46 in Cape Coral, down 16 points (26%).
The move
Cape Coral and Plano are 989 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,841 a month in Plano, down $17 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $112,253 in Plano, up $34,149 (44%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 62 in Plano, up 16 points (35%).
Plano, TX
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 Plano and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Plano rent is 1% cheaper than Cape Coral
Plano
Winner$1,841/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,841 a month in Plano versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so Plano is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $17, or $204 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 Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
44% higher
Plano's median income is 44% higher than Cape Coral
Plano
Winner$112,253
Cape Coral
$78,104
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $78,104 in Cape Coral, so typical pay runs 44% higher in Plano (about $34,149 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, Plano 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
26% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 26% lower than Plano
Plano
62 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 62 in Plano (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% 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. Plano can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Plano and Cape Coral are about even on typical weather.
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cape Coral
73°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 73°F (79°F highs). Plano sits near 69°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
Plano is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,841 a month. Choose Plano if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Plano is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 44% higher here ($112,253). Start with Plano 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 better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 26% lower than Plano (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
Pay is the headline: Plano median income is $112,253 versus $78,104 in Cape Coral (30% higher). Rent still runs $1,841/month in Plano and $1,858/month in Cape Coral, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Plano rates.
Safety still diverges (84/100 in Cape Coral vs 75/100 in Plano), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Pick Plano when your field pays toward $112,253 median income. Otherwise, Cape Coral's case rests on a $1,858 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Safety scores read 75/100 in Plano and 84/100 in Cape Coral.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Plano and Cape Coral, plus other cities in TX and FL.
