City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 195 in Fresno, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 211, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fresno is cheaper. Median rent is $1,421 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Fresno split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 60 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 $1,421 in Fresno.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth wins on the job market and safety and Fresno wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Fort Worth has rougher pockets and Fresno has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Fort Worth and Fresno are 1,301 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,421 a month in Fresno, down $88 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $70,991 in Fresno, down $8,516 (11%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 195 in Fresno, up 60 points (44%).
The move
Fresno and Fort Worth are 1,301 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,421 a month in Fresno to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $88 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $70,991 in Fresno to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $8,516 (12%).
The crime index goes from 195 in Fresno to 135 in Fort Worth, down 60 points (31%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Fresno, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Fresno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Fresno rent is 6% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Fresno
Winner$1,421/mo
Typical rent runs $1,421 a month in Fresno versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Fresno is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $88, or $1,056 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 Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 12% higher than Fresno
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Fresno
$70,991
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $70,991 in Fresno, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Fort Worth (about $8,516 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. Fresno can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
31% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 31% lower than Fresno
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Fresno
195 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 195 in Fresno (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% 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. Fresno 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 Fresno are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fresno
73°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Fresno averages about 73°F (83°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Fresno sits near 73°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 12% higher here ($79,507). Start with Fort Worth if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 31% lower than Fresno (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 Fresno
Fresno is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,421 a month. Choose Fresno if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Fresno carries the heavier crime signal on this page (40/100 safety vs 51/100 in Fort Worth). That 11-point spread matters more than the $88 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Fresno rent at $1,421/month is still below Fort Worth's $1,509, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,421 in Fresno and $1,509 in Fort Worth.
If safety drives your move, Fort Worth is the stronger match (51/100 safety versus 40/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Fresno, treat $1,421/month rent and $70,991 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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