City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 223 in Washington, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 243, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Washington and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Cape Coral is cheaper. Median rent is $1,858 a month versus $1,954 in Washington.
Safety is where Washington and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 177 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,954 in Washington and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Cape Coral is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Washington 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 crime gap is citywide. Cape Coral has rougher pockets and Washington has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Washington and Cape Coral are 898 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,954 a month in Washington to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, down $96 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $109,870 in Washington to $78,104 in Cape Coral, down $31,766 (29%).
The crime index goes from 223 in Washington to 46 in Cape Coral, down 177 points (79%).
The move
Cape Coral and Washington are 898 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,954 a month in Washington, up $96 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $109,870 in Washington, up $31,766 (41%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 223 in Washington, up 177 points (385%).
Washington, DC
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 Washington and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Cape Coral rent is 5% cheaper than Washington
Washington
$1,954/mo
Cape Coral
Winner$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,858 a month in Cape Coral versus $1,954 in Washington, so Cape Coral is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $96, or $1,152 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
41% higher
Washington's median income is 41% higher than Cape Coral
Washington
Winner$109,870
Cape Coral
$78,104
Median household income is $109,870 in Washington versus $78,104 in Cape Coral, so typical pay runs 41% higher in Washington (about $31,766 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, Washington 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
79% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 79% lower than Washington
Washington
223 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 223 in Washington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 79% 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. Washington can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Cape Coral weather is 39% more comfortable than Washington
Washington
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Cape Coral
Winner73°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Washington averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 73°F (79°F highs). Washington averages around 55°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 39% 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 Washington 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
Washington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 41% higher here ($109,870). Start with Washington 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
Cape Coral is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% 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.
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 Washington on this page's weather index by 39%. Washington 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 79% lower than Washington (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 36/100 in Washington. Rent is $1,858/month in Cape Coral and $1,954/month in Washington, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Cape Coral rent at $1,858/month is still below Washington's $1,954, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Washington and 73°F in Cape Coral.
Cape Coral is ahead on safety (84/100 vs 36/100); Washington is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,954/month rent plus $109,870 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Washington and Cape Coral, plus other cities in DC and FL.
