City comparison
No. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Fort Worth split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 126 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,509 in Fort Worth.
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. Philadelphia 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 crime gap is citywide. Fort Worth has rougher pockets and Philadelphia has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and Fort Worth are 1,326 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $112 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $17,554 (28%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 135 in Fort Worth, down 126 points (48%).
The move
Fort Worth and Philadelphia are 1,326 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $112 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $17,554 (22%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 261 in Philadelphia, up 126 points (93%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 7% cheaper than Fort Worth
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Philadelphia is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $112, or $1,344 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
28% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 28% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Fort Worth (about $17,554 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. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
48% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 48% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 48% 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. Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
Philadelphia
59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Fort Worth
Winner73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Philadelphia averages about 59°F (67°F highs); Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Fort Worth sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. 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 Philadelphia if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,397 a month. Choose Philadelphia if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
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 28% higher ($79,507), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 73°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 48% lower than Philadelphia (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
Safety is the widest gap: Fort Worth scores 51/100 versus 31/100 in Philadelphia. Rent is $1,509/month in Fort Worth and $1,397/month in Philadelphia, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Philadelphia rent at $1,397/month is still below Fort Worth's $1,509, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Philadelphia and 73°F in Fort Worth.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Fort Worth; Philadelphia only makes sense when you have walked the Philadelphia ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,397 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Fort Worth, plus other cities in PA and TX.
