Is Chicago cheaper than Fort Worth?

Yes. Typical rent in Chicago is $1,440 a month versus $1,750 in Fort Worth — 18% cheaper. Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago compared with $72,400 in Fort Worth, so Chicago has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Chicago or Fort Worth?

Fort Worth is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 86 in Chicago — 63% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Chicago or Fort Worth?

School composites are close: A- in Chicago and A- in Fort Worth. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

New search

City comparison

Chicago, IL vs Fort Worth, TX

Chicago, IL versus Fort Worth, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,440 a month in Chicago and $1,750 in Fort Worth, and median household income lands at $77,902 versus $72,400. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Chicago takes affordability, job market, and weather, while Fort Worth takes safety. The widest gap is typical weather, where Chicago leads by 104% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Chicago can feel further apart than Chicago and Fort Worth do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Chicago and Fort Worth reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Chicago report Full Fort Worth report

Chicago, IL

Rent: $1,440/mo
Median income: $77,902
Crime index: 86
Schools: A-
Weather: 69°F

Fort Worth, TX

Rent: $1,750/mo
Median income: $72,400
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 91°F

Rent

18% cheaper

Chicago rent is 18% cheaper than Fort Worth

Chicago

Winner

$1,440/mo

Fort Worth

$1,750/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,440 a month in Chicago versus $1,750 in Fort Worth, so Chicago is 18% 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 $3,720 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Chicago still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Fort Worth.

Median income

8% higher

Chicago's median income is 8% higher than Fort Worth

Chicago

Winner

$77,902

Fort Worth

$72,400

What this means for your life

Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $72,400 in Fort Worth, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Chicago — about $5,502 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

63% lower crime

Fort Worth's crime index is 63% lower than Chicago

Chicago

86 (100 = avg)

Fort Worth

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Fort Worth's crime index is 32 versus 86 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 63% 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. Chicago can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Chicago and Fort Worth are about even on school scores.

Chicago

A- · 84/100

Fort Worth

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Chicago, A- in Fort Worth). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

104% more comfortable

Chicago weather is 104% more comfortable than Fort Worth

Chicago

Winner

69°F typical

Fort Worth

91°F typical

What this means for your life

Chicago scores 104% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 69°F in Chicago and 91°F in Fort Worth. Chicago reads as mild, livable temperatures; Fort Worth reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Chicago is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Fort Worth can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Chicago

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

Chicago is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,440 a month. Choose Chicago if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 8% higher ($77,902), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 69°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Chicago report →

Fit check

Who should choose Fort Worth

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

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 63% lower than Chicago (32 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.

Open the Fort Worth report →

Bottom line

Chicago vs Fort Worth, called

If weather is your priority, Chicago is the clear choice.

If safety matters more to you, Fort Worth pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Chicago offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Chicago vs Fort Worth FAQ

Is Chicago cheaper than Fort Worth?: Yes. Typical rent in Chicago is $1,440 a month versus $1,750 in Fort Worth — 18% cheaper. Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago compared with $72,400 in Fort Worth, so Chicago has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Chicago or Fort Worth?: Fort Worth is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 86 in Chicago — 63% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Chicago or Fort Worth?: School composites are close: A- in Chicago and A- in Fort Worth. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Chicago?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps