City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 233 in Stockton, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $1,577 in Stockton.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Stockton split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 98 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 $1,577 in Stockton.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth wins on cost of living and safety and Stockton 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 Stockton has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Fort Worth and Stockton are 1,394 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,577 a month in Stockton, up $68 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $79,907 in Stockton, up $400 (1%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 233 in Stockton, up 98 points (73%).
The move
Stockton and Fort Worth are 1,394 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $68 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $79,507 in Fort Worth, down $400 (1%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 135 in Fort Worth, down 98 points (42%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Stockton, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 4% cheaper than Stockton
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Stockton
$1,577/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $1,577 in Stockton, so Fort Worth is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $68, or $816 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
1% higher
Stockton's median income is 1% higher than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$79,507
Stockton
Winner$79,907
Median household income is $79,907 in Stockton versus $79,507 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Stockton (about $400 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
42% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 42% lower than Stockton
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Stockton
233 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 233 in Stockton (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% 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. Stockton 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 Stockton are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Stockton
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Stockton averages about 71°F (83°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Stockton sits near 71°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 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.
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 42% lower than Stockton (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
Stockton is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($79,907). Start with Stockton if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Stockton carries the heavier crime signal on this page (34/100 safety vs 51/100 in Fort Worth). That 17-point spread matters more than the $68 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
With only $68 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $79,907 in Stockton versus $79,507 in Fort Worth.
Fort Worth clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Stockton deserves a serious look only when you already know the Stockton block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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