City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 135 in Fort Worth, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 88 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 $2,110 in Gilbert.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth wins on cost of living and Gilbert wins on the job market 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. 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 Gilbert are 838 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $601 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $43,044 (54%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 47 in Gilbert, down 88 points (65%).
The move
Gilbert and Fort Worth are 838 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $601 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $79,507 in Fort Worth, down $43,044 (35%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 135 in Fort Worth, up 88 points (187%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Gilbert, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 28% cheaper than Gilbert
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Fort Worth is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $601/month back in your pocket ($7,212/year). Over five years that's $36,060 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 Gilbert, 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 Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
54% higher
Gilbert's median income is 54% higher than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$79,507
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $79,507 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 54% higher in Gilbert (about $43,044 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, Gilbert 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
65% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 65% lower than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
135 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 135 in Fort Worth (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 65% lower in Gilbert. 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, Gilbert 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 Gilbert are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Gilbert sits near 80°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Fort Worth
Fort Worth is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 28% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Gilbert is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 54% higher here ($122,551). Start with Gilbert if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Gilbert is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 65% lower than Fort Worth (47 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Gilbert leads on safety (83/100 vs 51/100 in Fort Worth). Typical rent is $2,110 in Gilbert and $1,509 in Fort Worth; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Fort Worth rent at $1,509/month is still below Gilbert's $2,110, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,509 in Fort Worth and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Gilbert is ahead on safety (83/100 vs 51/100); Fort Worth is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,509/month rent plus $79,507 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fort Worth and Gilbert, plus other cities in TX and AZ.
