City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 183 in Oklahoma City, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 197, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Oklahoma City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,130 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Oklahoma City split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 48 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 $1,130 in Oklahoma City.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth wins on the job market and safety and Oklahoma City 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. Oklahoma City at $1,130 average has pockets that run $930 and others at $1,530: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Oklahoma City are 190 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, down $379 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, down $10,851 (14%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 183 in Oklahoma City, up 48 points (36%).
The move
Oklahoma City and Fort Worth are 190 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $379 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $10,851 (16%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 135 in Fort Worth, down 48 points (26%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Oklahoma City, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Oklahoma City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Oklahoma City rent is 25% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Oklahoma City
Winner$1,130/mo
Typical rent runs $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Oklahoma City is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $379/month back in your pocket ($4,548/year). Over five years that's $22,740 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, Oklahoma City 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
16% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 16% higher than Oklahoma City
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Oklahoma City
$68,656
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $68,656 in Oklahoma City, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Fort Worth (about $10,851 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. Oklahoma City can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
26% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 26% lower than Oklahoma City
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Oklahoma City
183 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 183 in Oklahoma City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% 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. Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oklahoma City
68°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Oklahoma City averages about 68°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. Oklahoma City 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
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 16% 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 26% lower than Oklahoma City (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 Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% cheaper here at about $1,130 a month. Choose Oklahoma City if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Fort Worth runs $1,509/month while Oklahoma City sits at $1,130 — roughly 25% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Fort Worth-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Oklahoma City rent at $1,130/month is still below Fort Worth's $1,509, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $68,656 in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City is the default on housing cost at $1,130/month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth; Fort Worth stays in play when $79,507 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $379 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fort Worth and Oklahoma City, plus other cities in TX and OK.
