City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 241, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Fort Worth and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Orlando split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 107 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 $1,747 in Orlando.
Fort Worth is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Orlando 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 crime gap is citywide. Fort Worth has rougher pockets and Orlando has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Fort Worth and Orlando are 990 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $238 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $72,336 in Orlando, down $7,171 (9%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 242 in Orlando, up 107 points (79%).
The move
Orlando and Fort Worth are 990 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $238 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $7,171 (10%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 135 in Fort Worth, down 107 points (44%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Orlando, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 14% cheaper than Orlando
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Fort Worth is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,856, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Fort Worth still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Orlando.
Planning to buy in Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 10% higher than Orlando
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Orlando
$72,336
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Fort Worth (about $7,171 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
44% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 44% lower than Orlando
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 44% 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. Orlando 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 Orlando are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Orlando
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (77°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Orlando sits near 71°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 clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 10% 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 44% lower than Orlando (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 Orlando
On these five categories Fort Worth takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Orlando because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Orlando only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Fort Worth: Fort Worth scores 51/100 versus 33/100 in Orlando, with typical rent at $1,509 versus $1,747. I would vet the exact ZIP in Orlando before trading 18 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Fort Worth vs 33/100 in Orlando), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $72,336 in Orlando.
If safety drives your move, Fort Worth is the stronger match (51/100 safety versus 33/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Orlando, treat $1,747/month rent and $72,336 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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