City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 158 in Pittsburgh, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 147, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Fort Worth and Pittsburgh. Fort Worth averages 66°F while Pittsburgh averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,509 versus $1,261.
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. Pittsburgh 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Pittsburgh at $1,261 average has pockets that run $1,061 and others at $1,661: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Pittsburgh are 1,096 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $248 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $13,765 (17%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 158 in Pittsburgh, up 23 points (17%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Fort Worth are 1,096 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $248 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $13,765 (21%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 135 in Fort Worth, down 23 points (15%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Pittsburgh, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 16% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Pittsburgh is 16% 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 $2,976, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Pittsburgh still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Fort Worth.
Planning to buy in Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
21% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 21% higher than Pittsburgh
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 21% higher in Fort Worth (about $13,765 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. Pittsburgh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
15% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 15% lower than Pittsburgh
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
158 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 158 in Pittsburgh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% 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 Pittsburgh. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 64% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Fort Worth
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Fort Worth scores 64% 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 Pittsburgh 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 21% 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 15% lower than Pittsburgh (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 Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,261 a month. Choose Pittsburgh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Pittsburgh (51°F) and Fort Worth (66°F) are not interchangeable on climate — about 15°F apart on typical temperatures. Rent ($1,261 vs $1,509) and pay ($65,742 vs $79,507) still matter, yet most movers regret ignoring the forecast row.
Fort Worth still pays more locally ($79,507 median income vs $65,742), which can offset the lease if your field pays Fort Worth rates.
Median income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh.
Pick Pittsburgh when 51°F is the daily environment you want. Otherwise, Fort Worth's case rests on 66°F you prefer and $1,509 rent you can sustain.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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