City comparison
No. Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 135 in Fort Worth, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lexington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,164 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Fort Worth and Lexington. Fort Worth averages 66°F while Lexington averages 54°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,509 versus $1,164.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Lexington costs less and Fort Worth pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Lexington at $1,164 average has pockets that run $964 and others at $1,564: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Lexington are 809 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,164 a month in Lexington, down $345 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $69,479 in Lexington, down $10,028 (13%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 102 in Lexington, down 33 points (24%).
The move
Lexington and Fort Worth are 809 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,164 a month in Lexington to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $345 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $69,479 in Lexington to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $10,028 (14%).
The crime index goes from 102 in Lexington to 135 in Fort Worth, up 33 points (32%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lexington, KY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Lexington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
Lexington rent is 23% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Lexington
Winner$1,164/mo
Typical rent runs $1,164 a month in Lexington versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Lexington is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $345/month back in your pocket ($4,140/year). Over five years that's $20,700 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, Lexington is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Lexington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 14% higher than Lexington
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Lexington
$69,479
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $69,479 in Lexington, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Fort Worth (about $10,028 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. Lexington can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
24% lower crime
Lexington's crime index is 24% lower than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
135 (100 = avg)
Lexington
Winner102 (100 = avg)
Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 135 in Fort Worth (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 24% lower in Lexington. 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, Lexington 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
45% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 45% more comfortable than Lexington
Fort Worth
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lexington
54°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 69/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Lexington averages about 54°F (64°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Lexington averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Fort Worth scores 45% 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 Lexington 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 14% 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.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Lexington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 23% cheaper here at about $1,164 a month. Choose Lexington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Lexington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 24% lower than Fort Worth (102 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
Weather separates these metros: $1,509/month rent in Fort Worth at 66°F versus $1,164 in Lexington at 54°F. Income runs $79,507 vs $69,479, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Fort Worth still pays more locally ($79,507 median income vs $69,479), which can offset the lease if your field pays Fort Worth rates.
Safety scores read 51/100 in Fort Worth and 59/100 in Lexington.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Fort Worth; Lexington only makes sense when 54°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
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Next steps
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