City comparison
No. Irvine's crime index is 51 versus 135 in Fort Worth, and its violent crime index is 24 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $2,997 in Irvine.
The income gap between Fort Worth and Irvine is significant: $79,507 median household versus $136,719. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,509 in Fort Worth and $2,997 in Irvine.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth wins on cost of living and Irvine 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 Irvine are 1,185 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $2,997 a month in Irvine, up $1,488 a month (99%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $136,719 in Irvine, up $57,212 (72%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 51 in Irvine, down 84 points (62%).
The move
Irvine and Fort Worth are 1,185 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,997 a month in Irvine to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $1,488 a month (50%).
Median household income goes from $136,719 in Irvine to $79,507 in Fort Worth, down $57,212 (42%).
The crime index goes from 51 in Irvine to 135 in Fort Worth, up 84 points (165%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irvine, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Irvine? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
50% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 50% cheaper than Irvine
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Irvine
$2,997/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $2,997 in Irvine, so Fort Worth is 50% cheaper. That's roughly $1,488/month back in your pocket ($17,856/year). Over five years that's $89,280 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 Irvine, 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 Irvine? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
72% higher
Irvine's median income is 72% higher than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$79,507
Irvine
Winner$136,719
Median household income is $136,719 in Irvine versus $79,507 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 72% higher in Irvine (about $57,212 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, Irvine 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
62% lower crime
Irvine's crime index is 62% lower than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
135 (100 = avg)
Irvine
Winner51 (100 = avg)
Irvine's crime index is 51 versus 135 in Fort Worth (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% lower in Irvine. 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, Irvine 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 Irvine are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irvine
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Irvine averages about 76°F (83°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irvine sits near 76°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 50% 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
Irvine is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 72% higher here ($136,719). Start with Irvine if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Irvine is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 62% lower than Fort Worth (51 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: Fort Worth at $1,509/month versus $2,997 in Irvine ($1,488 apart). Irvine median income is $136,719 against $79,507 in Fort Worth, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Fort Worth rent at $1,509/month is still below Irvine's $2,997, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $136,719 in Irvine versus $79,507 in Fort Worth.
Pick Fort Worth when shaving $1,488 off rent at $1,509/month is the priority. Otherwise, Irvine's case rests on $2,997/month rent with $136,719 local income.
Common questions
Ready to move to Irvine?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Irvine when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fort Worth and Irvine, plus other cities in TX and CA.
