City comparison
No. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 135 in Fort Worth, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Safety is where Fort Worth and El Paso split most clearly. El Paso scores 48 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 $1,073 in El Paso.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth wins on the job market and El Paso 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.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and El Paso are 540 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $436 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $59,745 in El Paso, down $19,762 (25%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 87 in El Paso, down 48 points (36%).
The move
El Paso and Fort Worth are 540 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $436 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $19,762 (33%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 135 in Fort Worth, up 48 points (55%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
El Paso, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
29% cheaper
El Paso rent is 29% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so El Paso is 29% cheaper. That's roughly $436/month back in your pocket ($5,232/year). Over five years that's $26,160 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, El Paso is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
33% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 33% higher than El Paso
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
El Paso
$59,745
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 33% higher in Fort Worth (about $19,762 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. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
36% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 36% lower than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
135 (100 = avg)
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 135 in Fort Worth (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso is the easier city. Fort Worth can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Fort Worth and El Paso are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso
72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs); El Paso averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. El Paso sits near 72°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 33% 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
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 29% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 36% lower than Fort Worth (87 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
Rent is the clearest fork: El Paso at $1,073/month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth ($436 apart). Fort Worth median income is $79,507 against $59,745 in El Paso, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
El Paso rent at $1,073/month is still below Fort Worth's $1,509, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $59,745 in El Paso.
El Paso clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Fort Worth deserves a serious look only when your $79,507 income offer in Fort Worth outweighs saving $436/month in El Paso.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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