City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Portland and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Portland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,655 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Safety is where Portland and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 219 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,655 in Portland and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Portland is the easier city on typical rent, but Cape Coral can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Cape Coral has rougher pockets and Portland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Portland and Cape Coral are 2,587 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $203 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $78,104 in Cape Coral, down $12,815 (14%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 46 in Cape Coral, down 219 points (83%).
The move
Cape Coral and Portland are 2,587 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,655 a month in Portland, down $203 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $90,919 in Portland, up $12,815 (16%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 265 in Portland, up 219 points (476%).
Portland, OR
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 Portland and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Portland rent is 11% cheaper than Cape Coral
Portland
Winner$1,655/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,655 a month in Portland versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so Portland is 11% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,436, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Portland still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Cape Coral.
Planning to buy in Portland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Portland's median income is 16% higher than Cape Coral
Portland
Winner$90,919
Cape Coral
$78,104
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $78,104 in Cape Coral, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Portland (about $12,815 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, Portland 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
83% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 83% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 83% 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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Cape Coral weather is 16% more comfortable than Portland
Portland
60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Cape Coral
Winner73°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 73°F (79°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. Cape Coral sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cape Coral scores 16% 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 Portland if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Portland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,655 a month. Choose Portland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Portland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 16% higher here ($90,919). Start with Portland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Cape Coral if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Portland on this page's weather index by 16%. Portland may pay more or cost less, but Cape Coral is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 83% lower than Portland (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 30/100 in Portland. Rent is $1,858/month in Cape Coral and $1,655/month in Portland, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (84/100 in Cape Coral vs 30/100 in Portland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $90,919 in Portland versus $78,104 in Cape Coral.
Cape Coral is ahead on safety (84/100 vs 30/100); Portland is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,655/month rent plus $90,919 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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