City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 189 in Lubbock, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 221, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lubbock is cheaper. Median rent is $1,182 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
The income gap between Fort Worth and Lubbock is significant: $79,507 median household versus $60,895. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,182 in Lubbock.
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. Lubbock 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. Lubbock at $1,182 average has pockets that run $982 and others at $1,582: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Lubbock are 269 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,182 a month in Lubbock, down $327 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $60,895 in Lubbock, down $18,612 (23%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 189 in Lubbock, up 54 points (40%).
The move
Lubbock and Fort Worth are 269 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,182 a month in Lubbock to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $327 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $60,895 in Lubbock to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $18,612 (31%).
The crime index goes from 189 in Lubbock to 135 in Fort Worth, down 54 points (29%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lubbock, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Lubbock? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
22% cheaper
Lubbock rent is 22% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Lubbock
Winner$1,182/mo
Typical rent runs $1,182 a month in Lubbock versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Lubbock is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $327/month back in your pocket ($3,924/year). Over five years that's $19,620 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, Lubbock 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
31% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 31% higher than Lubbock
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Lubbock
$60,895
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $60,895 in Lubbock, so typical pay runs 31% higher in Fort Worth (about $18,612 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. Lubbock can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
29% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 29% lower than Lubbock
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Lubbock
189 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 189 in Lubbock (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 29% 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. Lubbock can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 9% more comfortable than Lubbock
Fort Worth
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lubbock
62°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 92/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Lubbock averages about 62°F (70°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Lubbock averages around 62°F. Fort Worth scores 9% 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 Lubbock 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 31% 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 29% lower than Lubbock (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 Lubbock
Lubbock is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 22% cheaper here at about $1,182 a month. Choose Lubbock 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 41/100 in Lubbock). Typical rent is $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,182 in Lubbock; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Fort Worth still pays more locally ($79,507 median income vs $60,895), which can offset the lease if your field pays Fort Worth rates.
Median income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $60,895 in Lubbock.
Fort Worth is ahead on safety (51/100 vs 41/100); Lubbock is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,182/month rent plus $60,895 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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