City comparison
No. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Chicago is cheaper. Median rent is $1,440 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Chicago and Fort Worth are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,440 in Chicago and $1,509 in Fort Worth, and median household income lands at $77,902 versus $79,507. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Fort Worth is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Chicago makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Fort Worth is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Chicago and Fort Worth are 824 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $69 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $1,605 (2%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 135 in Fort Worth, down 32 points (19%).
The move
Fort Worth and Chicago are 824 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,440 a month in Chicago, down $69 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $77,902 in Chicago, down $1,605 (2%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 167 in Chicago, up 32 points (24%).
Chicago, IL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Chicago and Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Chicago rent is 5% cheaper than Fort Worth
Chicago
Winner$1,440/mo
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Typical rent runs $1,440 a month in Chicago versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Chicago is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $69, or $828 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 Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 2% higher than Chicago
Chicago
$77,902
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $77,902 in Chicago, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Fort Worth (about $1,605 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
19% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 19% lower than Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 19% lower in Fort Worth. 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, Fort Worth is the easier city. Chicago can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 20% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
59°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 83/100
Fort Worth
Winner73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chicago averages about 59°F (65°F highs); Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs). Chicago averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Fort Worth sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Fort Worth scores 20% 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 Chicago 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 Chicago
Chicago is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,440 a month. Choose Chicago 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 2% higher ($79,507), 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.
Fort Worth is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 19% lower than Chicago (135 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
Chicago carries the heavier crime signal on this page (44/100 safety vs 51/100 in Fort Worth). That 7-point spread matters more than the $69 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
With only $69 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,440 in Chicago and $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Pick Fort Worth when you want the stronger safety signal (51/100). Otherwise, Chicago's case rests on a Chicago ZIP you trust at $1,440 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Fort Worth?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Fort Worth when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Chicago and Fort Worth, plus other cities in IL and TX.
