City comparison
No. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Safety is where Dallas and Fort Worth split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 53 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Dallas and $1,509 in Fort Worth.
This is a genuine split. Dallas wins on cost of living and Fort Worth wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Fort Worth has rougher pockets and Dallas has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Dallas and Fort Worth are 30 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $37 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $8,989 (13%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 135 in Fort Worth, down 53 points (28%).
The move
Fort Worth and Dallas are 30 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $37 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $70,518 in Dallas, down $8,989 (11%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 188 in Dallas, up 53 points (39%).
Dallas, TX
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 Dallas and Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Dallas rent is 2% cheaper than Fort Worth
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Dallas is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $37, or $444 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
13% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 13% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Fort Worth (about $8,989 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
28% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 28% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 28% 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. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Dallas and Fort Worth are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth
73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs). Dallas sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Fort Worth sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Dallas
Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas 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 and professional growth
Fort Worth is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 13% higher here ($79,507). 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 28% lower than Dallas (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Fort Worth: Fort Worth scores 51/100 versus 41/100 in Dallas, with typical rent at $1,509 versus $1,472. I would vet the exact ZIP in Dallas before trading 10 safety points for housing savings.
Dallas rent at $1,472/month is still below Fort Worth's $1,509, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,472 in Dallas and $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Pick Fort Worth when you want the stronger safety signal (51/100). Otherwise, Dallas's case rests on a Dallas ZIP you trust at $1,472 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Fort Worth, plus other cities in TX.
