City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 136 in Newark, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 159, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
The income gap between Fort Worth and Newark is significant: $79,507 median household versus $52,060. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,392 in Newark.
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. Newark 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Newark in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Fort Worth and Newark are 1,391 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $117 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $52,060 in Newark, down $27,447 (35%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 136 in Newark, up 1 points (1%).
The move
Newark and Fort Worth are 1,391 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $117 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $27,447 (53%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 135 in Fort Worth, down 1 points (1%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Newark, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Newark rent is 8% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Newark is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $117, or $1,404 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
53% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 53% higher than Newark
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 53% higher in Fort Worth (about $27,447 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. Newark can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
1% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 1% lower than Newark
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Newark
136 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 136 in Newark (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 1% lower in Fort Worth. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Fort Worth, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Newark. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 45% more comfortable than Newark
Fort Worth
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Newark 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 Newark 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 53% 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 1% lower than Newark (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 Newark
Newark is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,392 a month. Choose Newark if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Fort Worth posts $79,507 median household income against $52,060 in Newark. That 35% pay gap is the story when rents are $1,392 in Newark and $1,509 in Fort Worth.
With only $117 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,392 in Newark and $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Between Fort Worth and Newark, Fort Worth is ahead on local pay — $79,507 median income against $52,060. Lean Newark instead when keeping rent near $1,392/month beats chasing $79,507 median income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fort Worth and Newark, plus other cities in TX and NJ.
