City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 147 in Boston, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 175, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Fort Worth and Boston. Fort Worth averages 73°F while Boston averages 55°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,509 versus $2,147.
Fort Worth is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Boston 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. Fort Worth at $1,509 average has pockets that run $1,309 and others at $1,909: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Boston are 1,577 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $638 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $97,344 in Boston, up $17,837 (22%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 147 in Boston, up 12 points (9%).
The move
Boston and Fort Worth are 1,577 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $638 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $79,507 in Fort Worth, down $17,837 (18%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 135 in Fort Worth, down 12 points (8%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Boston, MA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Boston? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 30% cheaper than Boston
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Boston
$2,147/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $2,147 in Boston, so Fort Worth is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $638/month back in your pocket ($7,656/year). Over five years that's $38,280 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 Boston, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Fort Worth 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
22% higher
Boston's median income is 22% higher than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$79,507
Boston
Winner$97,344
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $79,507 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Boston (about $17,837 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, Boston is the stronger labor market on paper. Fort Worth can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
8% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 8% lower than Boston
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Boston
147 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 147 in Boston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 8% lower in Fort Worth. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Fort Worth, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Boston. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 39% more comfortable than Boston
Fort Worth
Winner73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boston
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Boston averages about 55°F (61°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boston averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Fort Worth scores 39% 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 Boston if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Fort Worth is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 30% cheaper here at about $1,509 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.
Pick Fort Worth if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Boston on this page's weather index by 39%. Boston may pay more or cost less, but Fort Worth is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 8% lower than Boston (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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Boston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 22% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Fort Worth at $1,509/month versus $2,147 in Boston ($638 apart). Boston median income is $97,344 against $79,507 in Fort Worth, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Fort Worth rent at $1,509/month is still below Boston's $2,147, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $97,344 in Boston versus $79,507 in Fort Worth.
Fort Worth clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Boston deserves a serious look only when your $97,344 income offer in Boston outweighs saving $638/month in Fort Worth.
Common questions
Ready to move to Fort Worth?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Fort Worth when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fort Worth and Boston, plus other cities in TX and MA.
