City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Baltimore is cheaper. Median rent is $1,331 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Baltimore split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 203 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 $1,331 in Baltimore.
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. Baltimore 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 crime gap is citywide. Fort Worth has rougher pockets and Baltimore has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Fort Worth and Baltimore are 1,240 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, down $178 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $17,330 (22%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 338 in Baltimore, up 203 points (150%).
The move
Baltimore and Fort Worth are 1,240 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $178 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $17,330 (28%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 135 in Fort Worth, down 203 points (60%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Baltimore, MD
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Baltimore? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Baltimore rent is 12% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Baltimore
Winner$1,331/mo
Typical rent runs $1,331 a month in Baltimore versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Baltimore is 12% 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 $2,136, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Baltimore still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Fort Worth.
Planning to buy in Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
28% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 28% higher than Baltimore
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Baltimore
$62,177
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Fort Worth (about $17,330 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. Baltimore can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
60% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 60% lower than Baltimore
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 60% 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. Baltimore can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 16% more comfortable than Baltimore
Fort Worth
Winner73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Baltimore
60°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 86/100
Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Baltimore averages about 60°F (67°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Baltimore averages around 60°F. Fort Worth scores 16% 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 Baltimore 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 28% 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 60% lower than Baltimore (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 Baltimore
Baltimore is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,331 a month. Choose Baltimore if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Fort Worth leads on safety (51/100 vs 23/100 in Baltimore). Typical rent is $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,331 in Baltimore; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Baltimore rent at $1,331/month is still below Fort Worth's $1,509, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 73°F in Fort Worth and 60°F in Baltimore.
Between Fort Worth and Baltimore, Fort Worth is ahead on safety — 51/100 safety versus 23/100. Lean Baltimore instead when you already know the Baltimore block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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