City comparison
No. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 135 in Fort Worth, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Tampa split most clearly. Tampa scores 42 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 $1,701 in Tampa.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth wins on cost of living and the job market and Tampa wins on safety. 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. Tampa has rougher pockets and Fort Worth has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Fort Worth and Tampa are 945 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $192 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $75,475 in Tampa, down $4,032 (5%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 93 in Tampa, down 42 points (31%).
The move
Tampa and Fort Worth are 945 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $192 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $4,032 (5%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 135 in Fort Worth, up 42 points (45%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Tampa, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 11% cheaper than Tampa
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Tampa
$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $1,701 in Tampa, so Fort Worth is 11% 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 $2,304, 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 Tampa.
Planning to buy in Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 5% higher than Tampa
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Tampa
$75,475
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $75,475 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Fort Worth (about $4,032 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
31% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 31% lower than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
135 (100 = avg)
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 135 in Fort Worth (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% lower in Tampa. 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, Tampa is the easier city. Fort Worth 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 Tampa are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tampa
75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Tampa averages about 75°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. Tampa sits near 75°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Fort Worth is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 5% higher here ($79,507). Start with Fort Worth if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 31% lower than Fort Worth (93 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.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Tampa: Tampa scores 62/100 versus 51/100 in Fort Worth, with typical rent at $1,701 versus $1,509. I would vet the exact ZIP in Fort Worth before trading 11 safety points for housing savings.
With only $192 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $75,475 in Tampa.
Tampa clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Fort Worth deserves a serious look only when you already know the Fort Worth 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
Open full neighborhood reports for Fort Worth and Tampa, plus other cities in TX and FL.
