City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between Fort Worth and San Francisco is significant: $79,507 median household versus $140,970. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,509 in Fort Worth and $2,476 in San Francisco.
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. San Francisco 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Fort Worth at $1,509 average has pockets that run $1,309 and others at $1,909: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and San Francisco are 1,454 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $967 a month (64%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $61,463 (77%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 183 in San Francisco, up 48 points (36%).
The move
San Francisco and Fort Worth are 1,454 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $967 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $79,507 in Fort Worth, down $61,463 (44%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 135 in Fort Worth, down 48 points (26%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and San Francisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
39% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 39% cheaper than San Francisco
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Fort Worth is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $967/month back in your pocket ($11,604/year). Over five years that's $58,020 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in San Francisco, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Fort Worth is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
77% higher
San Francisco's median income is 77% higher than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$79,507
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $79,507 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 77% higher in San Francisco (about $61,463 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, San Francisco 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
26% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 26% lower than San Francisco
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% 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. San Francisco can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 6% more comfortable than San Francisco
Fort Worth
Winner73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Francisco
63°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 94/100
Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs); San Francisco averages about 63°F (69°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. San Francisco averages around 63°F. Fort Worth scores 6% 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 San Francisco 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 39% 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 San Francisco on this page's weather index by 6%. San Francisco 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 26% lower than San Francisco (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
San Francisco is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 77% higher here ($140,970). Start with San Francisco if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Fort Worth at $1,509/month versus $2,476 in San Francisco ($967 apart). San Francisco median income is $140,970 against $79,507 in Fort Worth, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Fort Worth rent at $1,509/month is still below San Francisco's $2,476, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 51/100 in Fort Worth and 42/100 in San Francisco.
Fort Worth clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. San Francisco deserves a serious look only when your $140,970 income offer in San Francisco outweighs saving $967/month in Fort Worth.
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