City comparison
No. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 174 in Phoenix, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Worth is cheaper. Median rent is $1,509 a month versus $1,582 in Phoenix.
Safety is where Phoenix and Fort Worth split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 39 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,582 in Phoenix and $1,509 in Fort Worth.
This is a genuine split. Phoenix 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 crime gap is citywide. Fort Worth has rougher pockets and Phoenix has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Phoenix and Fort Worth are 855 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,582 a month in Phoenix to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, down $73 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $81,332 in Phoenix to $79,507 in Fort Worth, down $1,825 (2%).
The crime index goes from 174 in Phoenix to 135 in Fort Worth, down 39 points (22%).
The move
Fort Worth and Phoenix are 855 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,582 a month in Phoenix, up $73 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $81,332 in Phoenix, up $1,825 (2%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 174 in Phoenix, up 39 points (29%).
Phoenix, AZ
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 Phoenix and Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Fort Worth rent is 5% cheaper than Phoenix
Phoenix
$1,582/mo
Fort Worth
Winner$1,509/mo
Typical rent runs $1,509 a month in Fort Worth versus $1,582 in Phoenix, so Fort Worth is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $73, or $876 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
2% higher
Phoenix's median income is 2% higher than Fort Worth
Phoenix
Winner$81,332
Fort Worth
$79,507
Median household income is $81,332 in Phoenix versus $79,507 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Phoenix (about $1,825 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
22% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 22% lower than Phoenix
Phoenix
174 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 174 in Phoenix (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% 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. Phoenix can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Phoenix and Fort Worth are about even on typical weather.
Phoenix
80°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth
73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Phoenix averages about 80°F (86°F highs); Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs). Phoenix sits near 80°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
Phoenix is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% higher here ($81,332). Start with Phoenix 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 5% 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 22% lower than Phoenix (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Fort Worth leads on safety (51/100 vs 43/100 in Phoenix). Typical rent is $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,582 in Phoenix; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $73 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $81,332 in Phoenix versus $79,507 in Fort Worth.
Fort Worth is ahead on safety (51/100 vs 43/100); Phoenix is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,582/month rent plus $81,332 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Phoenix and Fort Worth, plus other cities in AZ and TX.
