City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 169 in Richmond, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Richmond and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Richmond is cheaper. Median rent is $1,372 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Safety is where Richmond and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 123 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,372 in Richmond and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
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. Richmond 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. Richmond at $1,372 average has pockets that run $1,172 and others at $1,772: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Richmond and Cape Coral are 803 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $486 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $78,104 in Cape Coral, up $13,517 (21%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 46 in Cape Coral, down 123 points (73%).
The move
Cape Coral and Richmond are 803 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,372 a month in Richmond, down $486 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $64,587 in Richmond, down $13,517 (17%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 169 in Richmond, up 123 points (267%).
Richmond, VA
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 Richmond and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
26% cheaper
Richmond rent is 26% cheaper than Cape Coral
Richmond
Winner$1,372/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,372 a month in Richmond versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so Richmond is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $486/month back in your pocket ($5,832/year). Over five years that's $29,160 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, Richmond 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
21% higher
Cape Coral's median income is 21% higher than Richmond
Richmond
$64,587
Cape Coral
Winner$78,104
Median household income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 21% higher in Cape Coral (about $13,517 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, Cape Coral is the stronger labor market on paper. Richmond can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
73% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 73% lower than Richmond
Richmond
169 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 169 in Richmond (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 73% 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. Richmond can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Cape Coral weather is 28% more comfortable than Richmond
Richmond
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Cape Coral
Winner72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Cape Coral sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cape Coral scores 28% 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 Richmond 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 Richmond
Richmond is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 26% cheaper here at about $1,372 a month. Choose Richmond 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 21% higher ($78,104), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 72°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 73% lower than Richmond (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Cape Coral leads on safety (84/100 vs 44/100 in Richmond). Typical rent is $1,858 in Cape Coral and $1,372 in Richmond; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Cape Coral still pays more locally ($78,104 median income vs $64,587), which can offset the lease if your field pays Cape Coral rates.
Weather averages land near 57°F in Richmond and 72°F in Cape Coral.
Cape Coral is ahead on safety (84/100 vs 44/100); Richmond is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,372/month rent plus $64,587 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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