City comparison
No. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 135 in Fort Worth, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Arlington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,470 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Fort Worth and Arlington 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 $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,470 in Arlington, and median household income lands at $79,507 versus $75,171. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth wins on the job market and Arlington wins on cost of living and safety. 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.
The move
Fort Worth and Arlington are 12 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,470 a month in Arlington, down $39 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $75,171 in Arlington, down $4,336 (5%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 132 in Arlington, down 3 points (2%).
The move
Arlington and Fort Worth are 12 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $39 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $4,336 (6%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 135 in Fort Worth, up 3 points (2%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Arlington rent is 3% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Arlington
Winner$1,470/mo
Typical rent runs $1,470 a month in Arlington versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Arlington is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $39, or $468 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 Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 6% higher than Arlington
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Arlington
$75,171
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $75,171 in Arlington, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Fort Worth (about $4,336 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
2% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 2% lower than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
135 (100 = avg)
Arlington
Winner132 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 135 in Fort Worth (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 2% lower in Arlington. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Arlington, 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.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Fort Worth and Arlington are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Arlington
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Arlington sits near 67°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
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 6% higher here ($79,507). Start with Fort Worth if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Arlington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,470 a month. Choose Arlington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Arlington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 2% lower than Fort Worth (132 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 runs $1,509/month while Arlington sits at $1,470 — roughly 3% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Fort Worth-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Arlington rent at $1,470/month is still below Fort Worth's $1,509, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 51/100 in Fort Worth and 52/100 in Arlington.
Arlington is the default on housing cost at $1,470/month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth; Fort Worth stays in play when $79,507 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $39 lease gap.
With rent only $39 apart, neither city wins on housing alone — let income ($79,507 vs $75,171) and safety (51/100 vs 52/100) break the tie.
Common questions
Ready to move to Arlington?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Arlington when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fort Worth and Arlington, plus other cities in TX.
