City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 374 in Detroit, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 496, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Detroit is cheaper. Median rent is $1,132 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Detroit split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 239 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 $1,132 in Detroit.
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. Detroit 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. Detroit at $1,132 average has pockets that run $932 and others at $1,532: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Detroit are 1,023 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,132 a month in Detroit, down $377 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $60,539 in Detroit, down $18,968 (24%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 374 in Detroit, up 239 points (177%).
The move
Detroit and Fort Worth are 1,023 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,132 a month in Detroit to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $377 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $60,539 in Detroit to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $18,968 (31%).
The crime index goes from 374 in Detroit to 135 in Fort Worth, down 239 points (64%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Detroit, MI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Detroit? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Detroit rent is 25% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Detroit
Winner$1,132/mo
Typical rent runs $1,132 a month in Detroit versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Detroit is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $377/month back in your pocket ($4,524/year). Over five years that's $22,620 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, Detroit 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
31% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 31% higher than Detroit
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Detroit
$60,539
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $60,539 in Detroit, so typical pay runs 31% higher in Fort Worth (about $18,968 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. Detroit can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
64% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 64% lower than Detroit
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Detroit
374 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 374 in Detroit (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 64% 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. Detroit can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 25% more comfortable than Detroit
Fort Worth
Winner73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Detroit
58°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 80/100
Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Detroit averages about 58°F (65°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Detroit averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Fort Worth scores 25% 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 Detroit 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 31% 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 64% lower than Detroit (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 Detroit
Detroit is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% cheaper here at about $1,132 a month. Choose Detroit if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Detroit carries the heavier crime signal on this page (20/100 safety vs 51/100 in Fort Worth). That 31-point spread matters more than the $377 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Fort Worth still pays more locally ($79,507 median income vs $60,539), which can offset the lease if your field pays Fort Worth rates.
Median income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $60,539 in Detroit.
Fort Worth clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Detroit deserves a serious look only when you already know the Detroit block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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Nearby research
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