City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 343 in Kansas City, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 423, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Kansas City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,238 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Kansas City split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 208 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 $1,238 in Kansas City.
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. Kansas City 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. Kansas City at $1,238 average has pockets that run $1,038 and others at $1,638: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Kansas City are 466 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,238 a month in Kansas City, down $271 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $69,166 in Kansas City, down $10,341 (13%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 343 in Kansas City, up 208 points (154%).
The move
Kansas City and Fort Worth are 466 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,238 a month in Kansas City to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $271 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $69,166 in Kansas City to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $10,341 (15%).
The crime index goes from 343 in Kansas City to 135 in Fort Worth, down 208 points (61%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Kansas City, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Kansas City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Kansas City rent is 18% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Kansas City
Winner$1,238/mo
Typical rent runs $1,238 a month in Kansas City versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Kansas City is 18% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,252, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Kansas City still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Fort Worth.
Planning to buy in Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 15% higher than Kansas City
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Kansas City
$69,166
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $69,166 in Kansas City, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Fort Worth (about $10,341 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. Kansas City can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
61% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 61% lower than Kansas City
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Kansas City
343 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 343 in Kansas City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 61% 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. Kansas City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 25% more comfortable than Kansas City
Fort Worth
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Kansas City
58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Kansas City averages about 58°F (66°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Kansas City averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Fort Worth scores 25% 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 Kansas City 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 15% higher ($79,507), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°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 61% lower than Kansas City (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 Kansas City
Kansas City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,238 a month. Choose Kansas City if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Kansas City carries the heavier crime signal on this page (23/100 safety vs 51/100 in Fort Worth). That 28-point spread matters more than the $271 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Fort Worth still pays more locally ($79,507 median income vs $69,166), which can offset the lease if your field pays Fort Worth rates.
Weather averages land near 66°F in Fort Worth and 58°F in Kansas City.
Pick Fort Worth when you want the stronger safety signal (51/100). Otherwise, Kansas City's case rests on a Kansas City ZIP you trust at $1,238 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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