City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 142 in Raleigh, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 128, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Raleigh and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Safety is where Raleigh and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 96 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Raleigh 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 Raleigh has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Raleigh and Cape Coral are 666 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $286 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $78,104 in Cape Coral, down $7,291 (9%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 46 in Cape Coral, down 96 points (68%).
The move
Cape Coral and Raleigh are 666 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $286 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $7,291 (9%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 142 in Raleigh, up 96 points (209%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 15% cheaper than Cape Coral
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so Raleigh is 15% 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 $3,432, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Raleigh 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 Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Raleigh's median income is 9% higher than Cape Coral
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Cape Coral
$78,104
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $78,104 in Cape Coral, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Raleigh (about $7,291 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
68% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 68% lower than Raleigh
Raleigh
142 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 142 in Raleigh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 68% 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. Raleigh 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 Raleigh
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Cape Coral
Winner72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Cape Coral sits near 72°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 Raleigh 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
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh 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 (72°F) beat Raleigh on this page's weather index by 16%. Raleigh 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 68% lower than Raleigh (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 49/100 in Raleigh. Rent is $1,858/month in Cape Coral and $1,572/month in Raleigh, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (84/100 in Cape Coral vs 49/100 in Raleigh), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Raleigh and 72°F in Cape Coral.
Between Raleigh and Cape Coral, Cape Coral is ahead on safety — 84/100 safety versus 49/100. Lean Raleigh instead when you already know the Raleigh block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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