City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Albuquerque is cheaper. Median rent is $1,145 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Albuquerque split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 158 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,145 in Albuquerque.
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. Albuquerque 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.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Albuquerque at $1,145 average has pockets that run $945 and others at $1,545: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Albuquerque are 559 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, down $364 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $68,317 in Albuquerque, down $11,190 (14%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 293 in Albuquerque, up 158 points (117%).
The move
Albuquerque and Fort Worth are 559 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $364 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $11,190 (16%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 135 in Fort Worth, down 158 points (54%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Albuquerque? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
Albuquerque rent is 24% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Albuquerque
Winner$1,145/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Albuquerque versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Albuquerque is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $364/month back in your pocket ($4,368/year). Over five years that's $21,840 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Fort Worth, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Albuquerque is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 16% higher than Albuquerque
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Albuquerque
$68,317
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $68,317 in Albuquerque, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Fort Worth (about $11,190 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. Albuquerque can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
54% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 54% lower than Albuquerque
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 54% 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. Albuquerque can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 3% more comfortable than Albuquerque
Fort Worth
Winner73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Albuquerque
64°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 97/100
Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Albuquerque averages about 64°F (72°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Albuquerque averages around 64°F. Fort Worth scores 3% 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 Albuquerque 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 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 16% 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 54% lower than Albuquerque (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Albuquerque
Albuquerque is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 24% cheaper here at about $1,145 a month. Choose Albuquerque if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Albuquerque carries the heavier crime signal on this page (27/100 safety vs 51/100 in Fort Worth). That 24-point spread matters more than the $364 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Fort Worth still pays more locally ($79,507 median income vs $68,317), which can offset the lease if your field pays Fort Worth rates.
Median income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $68,317 in Albuquerque.
Fort Worth clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Albuquerque deserves a serious look only when you already know the Albuquerque block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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