City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 326 in Wichita, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 353, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Wichita is cheaper. Median rent is $975 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Wichita split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 191 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 $975 in Wichita.
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. Wichita 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. Wichita at $975 average has pockets that run $775 and others at $1,375: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Wichita are 343 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $975 a month in Wichita, down $534 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $64,620 in Wichita, down $14,887 (19%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 326 in Wichita, up 191 points (141%).
The move
Wichita and Fort Worth are 343 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $975 a month in Wichita to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $534 a month (55%).
Median household income goes from $64,620 in Wichita to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $14,887 (23%).
The crime index goes from 326 in Wichita to 135 in Fort Worth, down 191 points (59%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Wichita, KS
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Wichita? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
Wichita rent is 35% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Wichita
Winner$975/mo
Typical rent runs $975 a month in Wichita versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Wichita is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $534/month back in your pocket ($6,408/year). Over five years that's $32,040 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, Wichita 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
23% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 23% higher than Wichita
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Wichita
$64,620
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $64,620 in Wichita, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Fort Worth (about $14,887 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. Wichita can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
59% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 59% lower than Wichita
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Wichita
326 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 326 in Wichita (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% 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. Wichita can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 12% more comfortable than Wichita
Fort Worth
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Wichita
61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Wichita averages about 61°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. Wichita averages around 61°F. Fort Worth scores 12% 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 Wichita 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 23% 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 59% lower than Wichita (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 Wichita
Wichita is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 35% cheaper here at about $975 a month. Choose Wichita 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 24/100 in Wichita, with typical rent at $1,509 versus $975. I would vet the exact ZIP in Wichita before trading 27 safety points for housing savings.
Fort Worth still pays more locally ($79,507 median income vs $64,620), which can offset the lease if your field pays Fort Worth rates.
Median income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $64,620 in Wichita.
Fort Worth clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Wichita deserves a serious look only when you already know the Wichita block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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