City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 209 in Louisville, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Louisville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,120 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Louisville split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 74 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 $1,120 in Louisville.
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. Louisville 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. Louisville at $1,120 average has pockets that run $920 and others at $1,520: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Louisville are 753 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,120 a month in Louisville, down $389 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $66,849 in Louisville, down $12,658 (16%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 209 in Louisville, up 74 points (55%).
The move
Louisville and Fort Worth are 753 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,120 a month in Louisville to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $389 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $66,849 in Louisville to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $12,658 (19%).
The crime index goes from 209 in Louisville to 135 in Fort Worth, down 74 points (35%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Louisville, KY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Louisville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
26% cheaper
Louisville rent is 26% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Louisville
Winner$1,120/mo
Typical rent runs $1,120 a month in Louisville versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Louisville is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $389/month back in your pocket ($4,668/year). Over five years that's $23,340 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, Louisville 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
19% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 19% higher than Louisville
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Louisville
$66,849
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $66,849 in Louisville, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Fort Worth (about $12,658 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. Louisville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
35% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 35% lower than Louisville
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Louisville
209 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 209 in Louisville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% 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. Louisville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 6% more comfortable than Louisville
Fort Worth
Winner73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Louisville
63°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 94/100
Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Louisville averages about 63°F (71°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Louisville averages around 63°F. Fort Worth scores 6% 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 Louisville 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 19% 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 35% lower than Louisville (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 Louisville
Louisville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 26% cheaper here at about $1,120 a month. Choose Louisville 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 38/100 in Louisville). Typical rent is $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,120 in Louisville; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Fort Worth still pays more locally ($79,507 median income vs $66,849), which can offset the lease if your field pays Fort Worth rates.
Median income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $66,849 in Louisville.
Fort Worth is ahead on safety (51/100 vs 38/100); Louisville is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,120/month rent plus $66,849 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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 Louisville, plus other cities in TX and KY.
