City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 169 in Richmond, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Richmond is cheaper. Median rent is $1,372 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
The income gap between Fort Worth and Richmond is significant: $79,507 median household versus $64,587. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,372 in Richmond.
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. Richmond 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 Richmond are 1,168 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,372 a month in Richmond, down $137 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $64,587 in Richmond, down $14,920 (19%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 169 in Richmond, up 34 points (25%).
The move
Richmond and Fort Worth are 1,168 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $137 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $14,920 (23%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 135 in Fort Worth, down 34 points (20%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Richmond rent is 9% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Richmond
Winner$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,372 a month in Richmond versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Richmond is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $137, or $1,644 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
23% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 23% higher than Richmond
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Richmond
$64,587
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Fort Worth (about $14,920 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. Richmond can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
20% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 20% lower than Richmond
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Richmond
169 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 169 in Richmond (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% 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. Richmond 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 Richmond
Fort Worth
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Richmond
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Richmond 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 Richmond 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 23% 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 20% lower than Richmond (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 Richmond
Richmond is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% cheaper here at about $1,372 a month. Choose Richmond if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Richmond (57°F) and Fort Worth (66°F) are not interchangeable on climate — about 9°F apart on typical temperatures. Rent ($1,372 vs $1,509) and pay ($64,587 vs $79,507) still matter, yet most movers regret ignoring the forecast row.
Richmond rent at $1,372/month is still below Fort Worth's $1,509, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $64,587 in Richmond.
Pick Richmond when 57°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
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fort Worth and Richmond, plus other cities in TX and VA.
