City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Oakland split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 299 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 $1,979 in Oakland.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth wins on cost of living and safety and Oakland wins on the job market. 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. Fort Worth at $1,509 average has pockets that run $1,309 and others at $1,909: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Oakland are 1,446 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $470 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $101,600 in Oakland, up $22,093 (28%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 434 in Oakland, up 299 points (221%).
The move
Oakland and Fort Worth are 1,446 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $470 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $79,507 in Fort Worth, down $22,093 (22%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 135 in Fort Worth, down 299 points (69%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Oakland, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Oakland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 24% cheaper than Oakland
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $1,979 in Oakland, so Fort Worth is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $470/month back in your pocket ($5,640/year). Over five years that's $28,200 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 Oakland, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Fort Worth 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
28% higher
Oakland's median income is 28% higher than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$79,507
Oakland
Winner$101,600
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $79,507 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Oakland (about $22,093 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, Oakland is the stronger labor market on paper. Fort Worth can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
69% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 69% lower than Oakland
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 69% 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. Oakland 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 Oakland are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oakland
68°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Oakland averages about 68°F (80°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Oakland sits near 68°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
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Fort Worth is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 24% cheaper here at about $1,509 a month. Choose Fort Worth if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
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 69% lower than Oakland (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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Oakland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 28% higher here ($101,600). Start with Oakland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Fort Worth scores 51/100 versus 15/100 in Oakland. Rent is $1,509/month in Fort Worth and $1,979/month in Oakland, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Oakland still pays more locally ($101,600 median income vs $79,507), which can offset the lease if your field pays Oakland rates.
Median income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $79,507 in Fort Worth.
Fort Worth is ahead on safety (51/100 vs 15/100); Oakland is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,979/month rent plus $101,600 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 Oakland, plus other cities in TX and CA.
