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City comparison

Dallas, TX vs Fort Worth, TX

Dallas and Fort Worth are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, schools, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,931 in Dallas and $1,723 in Fort Worth, and median household income lands at $63,985 versus $72,726. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.

This is a genuine split. Dallas wins on safety and Fort Worth wins on cost of living and the job market. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.

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.

Full Dallas reportFull Fort Worth report

Dallas, TX

Rent
1,931/mo
Median income
63,985
Crime index
127
Schools
A-
Weather
94°F

Fort Worth, TX

Rent
1,723/mo
Median income
72,726
Crime index
133
Schools
A-
Weather
94°F

Rent

11% cheaper

Fort Worth rent is 11% cheaper than Dallas

Dallas

$1,931/mo

Fort Worth

Winner

$1,723/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,723 a month in Fort Worth versus $1,931 in Dallas, so Fort Worth 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 $2,496, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Fort Worth still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Dallas.

Planning to buy in Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.

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Median income

14% higher

Fort Worth's median income is 14% higher than Dallas

Dallas

$63,985

Fort Worth

Winner

$72,726

What this means for your life

Median household income is $72,726 in Fort Worth versus $63,985 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Fort Worth (about $8,741 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, Fort Worth is the stronger labor market on paper. Dallas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

5% lower crime

Dallas's crime index is 5% lower than Fort Worth

Dallas

Winner

127 (100 = avg)

Fort Worth

133 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Dallas's crime index is 127 versus 133 in Fort Worth (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% lower in Dallas. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Dallas, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Fort Worth. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Dallas and Fort Worth are about even on school scores.

Dallas

A- · 84/100

Fort Worth

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Dallas, 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

Neck and neck

Dallas and Fort Worth are about even on typical weather.

Dallas

94°F avg · 104°F highs · comfort 31/100

Fort Worth

94°F avg · 104°F highs · comfort 31/100

What this means for your life

Dallas averages about 94°F (104°F highs); Fort Worth averages about 94°F (104°F highs). Dallas often hits 104°F highs, so expect heavy AC use and limited outdoor time in summer. Fort Worth often hits 104°F highs, so expect heavy AC use and limited outdoor time in summer. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.

Fit check

Who should choose Dallas

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Dallas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 5% lower than Fort Worth (127 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.

Open the Dallas report →

Fit check

Who should choose Fort Worth

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 11% 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 14% higher here ($72,726). Start with Fort Worth if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Fort Worth report →

Bottom line

Dallas vs Fort Worth: Our Take

Fort Worth wins overall, but the margin is thinner than the category headlines suggest (2 wins to 1).

Fort Worth's typical rent runs 11% lower than Dallas ($1,723/month vs $1,931/month), which is real money over a lease.

The main trade-off: Dallas posts a 5% lower crime index (127 vs 133, where 100 is the national average).

The decision comes down to whether you value cost of living more than safety. For most middle-income movers, Fort Worth is the stronger choice.

Common questions

Dallas vs Fort Worth FAQ

Is Dallas cheaper than Fort Worth?
No. Fort Worth is cheaper: typical rent is $1,723 a month versus $1,931 in Dallas (11% lower). Median household income is $63,985 in Dallas compared with $72,726 in Fort Worth, so Fort Worth has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Dallas or Fort Worth?
Dallas is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 127 versus 133 in Fort Worth (5% lower; 100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Dallas or Fort Worth?
School composites are close: A- in Dallas and A- in Fort Worth. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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