City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Tulsa split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 101 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 $1,052 in Tulsa.
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. Tulsa 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. Tulsa at $1,052 average has pockets that run $852 and others at $1,452: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Tulsa are 249 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $457 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $19,669 (25%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 236 in Tulsa, up 101 points (75%).
The move
Tulsa and Fort Worth are 249 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $457 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $19,669 (33%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 135 in Fort Worth, down 101 points (43%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Tulsa, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 30% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Tulsa is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $457/month back in your pocket ($5,484/year). Over five years that's $27,420 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 Fort Worth, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Tulsa 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
33% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 33% higher than Tulsa
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Tulsa
$59,838
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 33% higher in Fort Worth (about $19,669 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. Tulsa can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
43% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 43% lower than Tulsa
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 43% 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. Tulsa can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 9% more comfortable than Tulsa
Fort Worth
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tulsa
62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tulsa averages around 62°F. Fort Worth scores 9% 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 Tulsa 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 33% 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 43% lower than Tulsa (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 Tulsa
Tulsa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 30% cheaper here at about $1,052 a month. Choose Tulsa if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Fort Worth: Fort Worth scores 51/100 versus 34/100 in Tulsa, with typical rent at $1,509 versus $1,052. I would vet the exact ZIP in Tulsa before trading 17 safety points for housing savings.
Fort Worth still pays more locally ($79,507 median income vs $59,838), which can offset the lease if your field pays Fort Worth rates.
Median income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $59,838 in Tulsa.
If safety drives your move, Fort Worth is the stronger match (51/100 safety versus 34/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Tulsa, treat $1,052/month rent and $59,838 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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