City comparison
No. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 158 in Los Angeles, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 202, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
The cost gap between Los Angeles and Fort Worth is the real story here. Fort Worth comes in 22% cheaper on typical rent ($1,933 vs $1,509), which over a year adds up to $5,088. Median household income runs $81,939 in Los Angeles and $79,507 in Fort Worth.
This is a genuine split. Los Angeles wins on the job market and Fort Worth wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Fort Worth at $1,509 average has pockets that run $1,309 and others at $1,909: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Los Angeles and Fort Worth are 1,208 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $424 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $79,507 in Fort Worth, down $2,432 (3%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 135 in Fort Worth, down 23 points (15%).
The move
Fort Worth and Los Angeles are 1,208 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $424 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $2,432 (3%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 158 in Los Angeles, up 23 points (17%).
Los Angeles, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Los Angeles and Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
22% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 22% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Fort Worth is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $424/month back in your pocket ($5,088/year). Over five years that's $25,440 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 Los Angeles, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Fort Worth 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
3% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 3% higher than Fort Worth
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
Fort Worth
$79,507
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $79,507 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Los Angeles (about $2,432 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
15% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 15% lower than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
158 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 158 in Los Angeles (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% lower in Fort Worth. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Fort Worth, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Los Angeles. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Los Angeles and Fort Worth are about even on typical weather.
Los Angeles
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth
73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Los Angeles averages about 76°F (83°F highs); Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Fort Worth sits near 73°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
Los Angeles is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 3% higher here ($81,939). Start with Los Angeles 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
Fort Worth is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 22% 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 15% lower than Los Angeles (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.
Bottom line
On rent alone, Fort Worth undercuts Los Angeles by $424/month ($1,509 vs $1,933). I would not pick Los Angeles on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Fort Worth rent at $1,509/month is still below Los Angeles's $1,933, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $79,507 in Fort Worth.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in Fort Worth; Los Angeles only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Los Angeles at $81,939 income.
Common questions
Ready to move to Fort Worth?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Fort Worth when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Los Angeles and Fort Worth, plus other cities in CA and TX.
