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City comparison

Fort Worth, TX vs Portland, OR

Climate is the sharpest divide between Fort Worth and Portland. Fort Worth averages 94°F while Portland averages 66°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,723 versus $1,530.

Portland is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Fort Worth makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Portland is the stronger move.

Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Fort Worth in its hottest stretch before you sign anything.

Full Fort Worth reportFull Portland report

Fort Worth, TX

Rent
1,723/mo
Median income
72,726
Crime index
133
Schools
A-
Weather
94°F

Portland, OR

Rent
1,530/mo
Median income
85,876
Crime index
127
Schools
A-
Weather
66°F

Rent

11% cheaper

Portland rent is 11% cheaper than Fort Worth

Fort Worth

$1,723/mo

Portland

Winner

$1,530/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,530 a month in Portland versus $1,723 in Fort Worth, so Portland is 11% 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 $2,316, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Portland 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 Portland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.

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Median income

18% higher

Portland's median income is 18% higher than Fort Worth

Fort Worth

$72,726

Portland

Winner

$85,876

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,876 in Portland versus $72,726 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Portland (about $13,150 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, Portland 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

5% lower crime

Portland's crime index is 5% lower than Fort Worth

Fort Worth

133 (100 = avg)

Portland

Winner

127 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Portland's crime index is 127 versus 133 in Fort Worth (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% lower in Portland. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Portland, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Fort Worth. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Fort Worth and Portland are about even on school scores.

Fort Worth

A- · 84/100

Portland

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Fort Worth, A- in Portland). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better. At this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

223% more comfortable

Portland weather is 223% more comfortable than Fort Worth

Fort Worth

94°F avg · 104°F highs · comfort 31/100

Portland

Winner

66°F avg · 75°F highs · comfort 100/100

What this means for your life

Fort Worth averages about 94°F (104°F highs); Portland averages about 66°F (75°F highs). Fort Worth often hits 104°F highs, so expect heavy AC use and limited outdoor time in summer. Portland sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Portland scores 223% 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 Fort Worth if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.

Fit check

Who should choose Fort Worth

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Fort Worth

On these five categories Portland takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Fort Worth because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Fort Worth 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.

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Fit check

Who should choose Portland

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

Portland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,530 a month. Choose Portland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 18% higher ($85,876), 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.

Portland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 5% lower than Fort Worth (127 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.

Open the Portland report →

Bottom line

Fort Worth vs Portland: Our Take

Portland wins overall on this comparison, taking 4 of the 5 categories against 0 for Fort Worth.

Portland's typical rent runs 11% lower than Fort Worth ($1,530/month vs $1,723/month), which is real money over a lease.

Portland's median household income is 18% higher ($85,876 vs $72,726), which can offset housing cost for higher earners.

Unless a specific job offer or family network locks you into Fort Worth, Portland is the stronger overall choice on this data.

Common questions

Fort Worth vs Portland FAQ

Is Fort Worth cheaper than Portland?
No. Portland is cheaper: typical rent is $1,530 a month versus $1,723 in Fort Worth (11% lower). Median household income is $72,726 in Fort Worth compared with $85,876 in Portland, so Portland has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Fort Worth or Portland?
Portland is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 127 versus 133 in Fort Worth (5% lower; 100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Fort Worth or Portland?
School composites are close: A- in Fort Worth and A- in Portland. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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