City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 166 in St Paul, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 160, using 2024-2025 FBI data for St Paul and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Safety is where St Paul and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 120 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,281 in St Paul 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. St Paul 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. St Paul at $1,281 average has pockets that run $1,081 and others at $1,681: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
St Paul and Cape Coral are 1,412 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $577 a month (45%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $78,104 in Cape Coral, up $4,710 (6%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 46 in Cape Coral, down 120 points (72%).
The move
Cape Coral and St Paul are 1,412 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $577 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $73,394 in St Paul, down $4,710 (6%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 166 in St Paul, up 120 points (261%).
St Paul, MN
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 St Paul and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
St Paul rent is 31% cheaper than Cape Coral
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so St Paul is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $577/month back in your pocket ($6,924/year). Over five years that's $34,620 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, St Paul 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
6% higher
Cape Coral's median income is 6% higher than St Paul
St Paul
$73,394
Cape Coral
Winner$78,104
Median household income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Cape Coral (about $4,710 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
72% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 72% lower than St Paul
St Paul
166 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 166 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 72% 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. St Paul can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Cape Coral weather is 72% more comfortable than St Paul
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Cape Coral
Winner73°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 73°F (79°F highs). St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Cape Coral sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cape Coral scores 72% 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 St Paul 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 St Paul
St Paul is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 31% cheaper here at about $1,281 a month. Choose St Paul 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 6% higher ($78,104), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 73°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 72% lower than St Paul (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 45/100 in St Paul). Typical rent is $1,858 in Cape Coral and $1,281 in St Paul; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Cape Coral still pays more locally ($78,104 median income vs $73,394), which can offset the lease if your field pays Cape Coral rates.
Weather averages land near 50°F in St Paul and 73°F in Cape Coral.
Cape Coral is ahead on safety (84/100 vs 45/100); St Paul is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,281/month rent plus $73,394 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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