City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 216 in Indianapolis, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 246, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Indianapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,156 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Indianapolis split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 81 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 $1,156 in Indianapolis.
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. Indianapolis 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. Indianapolis at $1,156 average has pockets that run $956 and others at $1,556: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Indianapolis are 789 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,156 a month in Indianapolis, down $353 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $66,219 in Indianapolis, down $13,288 (17%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 216 in Indianapolis, up 81 points (60%).
The move
Indianapolis and Fort Worth are 789 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,156 a month in Indianapolis to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $353 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $66,219 in Indianapolis to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $13,288 (20%).
The crime index goes from 216 in Indianapolis to 135 in Fort Worth, down 81 points (38%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Indianapolis, IN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Indianapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
Indianapolis rent is 23% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Indianapolis
Winner$1,156/mo
Typical rent runs $1,156 a month in Indianapolis versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Indianapolis is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $353/month back in your pocket ($4,236/year). Over five years that's $21,180 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, Indianapolis 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
20% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 20% higher than Indianapolis
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Indianapolis
$66,219
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $66,219 in Indianapolis, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Fort Worth (about $13,288 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. Indianapolis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
38% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 38% lower than Indianapolis
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Indianapolis
216 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 216 in Indianapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% 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. Indianapolis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 16% more comfortable than Indianapolis
Fort Worth
Winner73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Indianapolis
60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Indianapolis averages about 60°F (68°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Indianapolis averages around 60°F. Fort Worth scores 16% 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 Indianapolis 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 20% 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 38% lower than Indianapolis (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 Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 23% cheaper here at about $1,156 a month. Choose Indianapolis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Fort Worth leads on safety (51/100 vs 37/100 in Indianapolis). Typical rent is $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,156 in Indianapolis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Fort Worth still pays more locally ($79,507 median income vs $66,219), which can offset the lease if your field pays Fort Worth rates.
Median income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $66,219 in Indianapolis.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Fort Worth; Indianapolis only makes sense when you have walked the Indianapolis ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,156 rent.
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 Indianapolis, plus other cities in TX and IN.
