City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 142 in Raleigh, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 128, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
Fort Worth and Raleigh are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,572 in Raleigh, and median household income lands at $79,507 versus $85,395. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
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. Raleigh 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Fort Worth and Raleigh are 1,086 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $63 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $5,888 (7%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 142 in Raleigh, up 7 points (5%).
The move
Raleigh and Fort Worth are 1,086 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $63 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $79,507 in Fort Worth, down $5,888 (7%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 135 in Fort Worth, down 7 points (5%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 4% cheaper than Raleigh
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Fort Worth is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $63, or $756 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
7% higher
Raleigh's median income is 7% higher than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$79,507
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $79,507 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Raleigh (about $5,888 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
5% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 5% lower than Raleigh
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
142 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 142 in Raleigh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% 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 Raleigh. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
Fort Worth
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Raleigh averages around 60°F. Fort Worth scores 16% 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 Raleigh 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 4% 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 (66°F) beat Raleigh on this page's weather index by 16%. Raleigh 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 5% lower than Raleigh (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
Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 7% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Fort Worth runs 66°F typical weather against 60°F in Raleigh (comfort scores 100 vs 86). Housing is $1,509/month versus $1,572/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
Fort Worth rent at $1,509/month is still below Raleigh's $1,572, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 51/100 in Fort Worth and 49/100 in Raleigh.
Pick Raleigh when 60°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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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Fort Worth when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fort Worth and Raleigh, plus other cities in TX and NC.
