City comparison
No. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 135 in Fort Worth, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Virginia Beach split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 73 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 $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Worth costs less and Virginia Beach pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Virginia Beach has rougher pockets and Fort Worth has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Fort Worth and Virginia Beach are 1,241 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $205 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $13,461 (17%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 73 points (54%).
The move
Virginia Beach and Fort Worth are 1,241 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $205 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $79,507 in Fort Worth, down $13,461 (14%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 135 in Fort Worth, up 73 points (118%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Virginia Beach, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 12% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Fort Worth is 12% 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 $2,460, 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 Virginia Beach.
Planning to buy in Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
17% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 17% higher than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$79,507
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $79,507 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Virginia Beach (about $13,461 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, Virginia Beach 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
54% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 54% lower than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
135 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 135 in Fort Worth (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 54% lower in Virginia Beach. 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, Virginia Beach 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
20% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 20% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Fort Worth
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Virginia Beach averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Fort Worth scores 20% 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 Virginia Beach 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 12% 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 (66°F) beat Virginia Beach on this page's weather index by 20%. Virginia Beach may pay more or cost less, but Fort Worth is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Virginia Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 17% higher here ($92,968). Start with Virginia Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Virginia Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 54% lower than Fort Worth (62 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
Safety is the widest gap: Virginia Beach scores 75/100 versus 51/100 in Fort Worth. Rent is $1,714/month in Virginia Beach and $1,509/month in Fort Worth, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (75/100 in Virginia Beach vs 51/100 in Fort Worth), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $79,507 in Fort Worth.
Virginia Beach is ahead on safety (75/100 vs 51/100); Fort Worth is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,509/month rent plus $79,507 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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