City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Portland split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 130 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 $1,655 in Portland.
Fort Worth is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Portland 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 Portland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Fort Worth and Portland are 1,611 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $146 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $90,919 in Portland, up $11,412 (14%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 265 in Portland, up 130 points (96%).
The move
Portland and Fort Worth are 1,611 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $146 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $79,507 in Fort Worth, down $11,412 (13%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 135 in Fort Worth, down 130 points (49%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Portland, OR
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Portland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 9% cheaper than Portland
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Portland
$1,655/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $1,655 in Portland, so Fort Worth is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $146, or $1,752 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Portland's median income is 14% higher than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$79,507
Portland
Winner$90,919
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $79,507 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Portland (about $11,412 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
49% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 49% lower than Portland
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 49% 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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 28% more comfortable than Portland
Fort Worth
Winner73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Portland
57°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 78/100
Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Portland averages about 57°F (64°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Portland averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Fort Worth scores 28% 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 Portland if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Fort Worth is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% 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.
Pick Fort Worth if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Portland on this page's weather index by 28%. Portland may pay more or cost less, but Fort Worth is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 49% lower than Portland (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
Portland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% higher here ($90,919). Start with Portland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Fort Worth: Fort Worth scores 51/100 versus 30/100 in Portland, with typical rent at $1,509 versus $1,655. I would vet the exact ZIP in Portland before trading 21 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Fort Worth vs 30/100 in Portland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $90,919 in Portland versus $79,507 in Fort Worth.
Pick Fort Worth when you want the stronger safety signal (51/100). Otherwise, Portland's case rests on a Portland ZIP you trust at $1,655 rent.
Common questions
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