City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 107 in Santa Ana, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Santa Ana and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Cape Coral is cheaper. Median rent is $1,858 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Safety is where Santa Ana and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 61 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,082 in Santa Ana and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
This is a genuine split. Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Santa Ana and Cape Coral are 2,191 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, down $224 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $78,104 in Cape Coral, down $15,895 (17%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 46 in Cape Coral, down 61 points (57%).
The move
Cape Coral and Santa Ana are 2,191 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $224 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $93,999 in Santa Ana, up $15,895 (20%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 107 in Santa Ana, up 61 points (133%).
Santa Ana, 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 Santa Ana and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Cape Coral rent is 11% cheaper than Santa Ana
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
Cape Coral
Winner$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,858 a month in Cape Coral versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so Cape Coral 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 $2,688, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Cape Coral still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Santa Ana.
Planning to buy in Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Santa Ana's median income is 20% higher than Cape Coral
Santa Ana
Winner$93,999
Cape Coral
$78,104
Median household income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $78,104 in Cape Coral, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Santa Ana (about $15,895 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, Santa Ana 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
57% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 57% lower than Santa Ana
Santa Ana
107 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 107 in Santa Ana (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% 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. Santa Ana can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Santa Ana and Cape Coral are about even on typical weather.
Santa Ana
72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cape Coral
72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Santa Ana averages about 72°F (78°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Santa Ana sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cape Coral sits near 72°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
Santa Ana is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 20% higher here ($93,999). Start with Santa Ana 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 11% 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 57% lower than Santa Ana (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Cape Coral: Cape Coral scores 84/100 versus 58/100 in Santa Ana, with typical rent at $1,858 versus $2,082. I would vet the exact ZIP in Santa Ana before trading 26 safety points for housing savings.
Cape Coral rent at $1,858/month is still below Santa Ana's $2,082, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,858 in Cape Coral and $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Cape Coral clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Santa Ana deserves a serious look only when you already know the Santa Ana 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
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