City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Memphis split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 360 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 $1,181 in Memphis.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth wins on the job market and safety and Memphis wins on cost of living. 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. Memphis at $1,181 average has pockets that run $981 and others at $1,581: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Memphis are 449 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $328 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $51,736 in Memphis, down $27,771 (35%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 495 in Memphis, up 360 points (267%).
The move
Memphis and Fort Worth are 449 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $328 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $27,771 (54%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 135 in Fort Worth, down 360 points (73%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
22% cheaper
Memphis rent is 22% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Memphis is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $328/month back in your pocket ($3,936/year). Over five years that's $19,680 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, Memphis 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
54% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 54% higher than Memphis
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Memphis
$51,736
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 54% higher in Fort Worth (about $27,771 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. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
73% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 73% lower than Memphis
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 73% 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. Memphis 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 Memphis are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis
70°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Memphis averages about 70°F (79°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Memphis sits near 70°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Fort Worth is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 54% higher here ($79,507). Start with Fort Worth if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 73% lower than Memphis (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 Memphis
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 22% cheaper here at about $1,181 a month. Choose Memphis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Fort Worth: Fort Worth scores 51/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis, with typical rent at $1,509 versus $1,181. I would vet the exact ZIP in Memphis before trading 40 safety points for housing savings.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Fort Worth's $1,509, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Pick Fort Worth when you want the stronger safety signal (51/100). Otherwise, Memphis's case rests on a Memphis ZIP you trust at $1,181 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fort Worth and Memphis, plus other cities in TX and TN.
