City comparison
Climate is the sharpest divide between Chicago and Fort Worth. Chicago averages 74°F while Fort Worth averages 94°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,781 versus $1,723.
Fort Worth is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Fort Worth in its hottest stretch before you sign anything.
Chicago, IL
Fort Worth, TX
Rent
3% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 3% cheaper than Chicago
Chicago
$1,781/mo
Fort Worth
Winner$1,723/mo
Typical rent runs $1,723 a month in Fort Worth versus $1,781 in Chicago, so Fort Worth is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $58, or $696 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
1% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 1% higher than Chicago
Chicago
$71,673
Fort Worth
Winner$72,726
Median household income is $72,726 in Fort Worth versus $71,673 in Chicago, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Fort Worth (about $1,053 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
1% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 1% lower than Chicago
Chicago
134 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth
Winner133 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 133 versus 134 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 1% lower in Fort Worth. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Fort Worth, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Chicago. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
School scores
Neck and neck
Chicago and Fort Worth are about even on school scores.
Chicago
A- · 84/100
Fort Worth
A- · 84/100
School composites are effectively even (A- in Chicago, A- in Fort Worth). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better. At this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.
Typical weather
223% more comfortable
Chicago weather is 223% more comfortable than Fort Worth
Chicago
Winner74°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth
94°F avg · 104°F highs · comfort 31/100
Chicago averages about 74°F (81°F highs); Fort Worth averages about 94°F (104°F highs). Chicago sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Fort Worth often hits 104°F highs, so expect heavy AC use and limited outdoor time in summer. Chicago scores 223% 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 Fort Worth if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Chicago if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (74°F) beat Fort Worth on this page's weather index by 223%. Fort Worth may pay more or cost less, but Chicago is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Fort Worth is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,723 a month. Choose Fort Worth if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fort Worth is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($72,726). Start with Fort Worth if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 1% lower than Chicago (133 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
Fort Worth wins overall on this comparison, taking 3 of the 5 categories against 1 for Chicago.
Fort Worth's typical rent runs 3% lower than Chicago ($1,723/month vs $1,781/month), which is real money over a lease.
The main trade-off: Chicago scores 223% more comfortable on this page's weather index (about 74°F typical vs 94°F in Fort Worth).
The decision comes down to whether you value cost of living more than weather. For most middle-income movers, Fort Worth is the stronger choice.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Chicago and Fort Worth, plus other cities in IL and TX.
