City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 181 in Sacramento, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 213, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Sacramento split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 46 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 $1,779 in Sacramento.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth wins on cost of living and safety and Sacramento wins on the job market. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Fort Worth has rougher pockets and Sacramento has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Fort Worth and Sacramento are 1,411 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $270 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $7,814 (10%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 181 in Sacramento, up 46 points (34%).
The move
Sacramento and Fort Worth are 1,411 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $270 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $79,507 in Fort Worth, down $7,814 (9%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 135 in Fort Worth, down 46 points (25%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Sacramento, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 15% cheaper than Sacramento
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so Fort Worth is 15% 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 $3,240, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Fort Worth still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Sacramento.
Planning to buy in Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Sacramento's median income is 10% higher than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$79,507
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $79,507 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Sacramento (about $7,814 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
25% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 25% lower than Sacramento
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Sacramento
181 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 181 in Sacramento (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% 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. Sacramento can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Fort Worth and Sacramento are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Sacramento
69°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Sacramento averages about 69°F (81°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Sacramento sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Fort Worth is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% 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.
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 25% lower than Sacramento (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
Sacramento is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 10% higher here ($87,321). Start with Sacramento 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 42/100 in Sacramento, with typical rent at $1,509 versus $1,779. I would vet the exact ZIP in Sacramento before trading 9 safety points for housing savings.
Sacramento still pays more locally ($87,321 median income vs $79,507), which can offset the lease if your field pays Sacramento rates.
Median income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $79,507 in Fort Worth.
Pick Fort Worth when you want the stronger safety signal (51/100). Otherwise, Sacramento's case rests on a Sacramento ZIP you trust at $1,779 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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