Is Dallas cheaper than Fort Worth?

Yes. Typical rent in Dallas is $1,472 a month versus $1,750 in Fort Worth — 16% cheaper. Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas compared with $72,400 in Fort Worth, so Fort Worth has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Dallas or Fort Worth?

Fort Worth is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 109 in Dallas — 71% 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, Dallas or Fort Worth?

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

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City comparison

Dallas, TX vs Fort Worth, TX

Dallas, TX 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 $1,472 a month in Dallas and $1,750 in Fort Worth, and median household income lands at $70,518 versus $72,400. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Dallas takes affordability, while Fort Worth takes job market and safety. The widest gap is crime index, where Fort Worth leads by 71% — 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 Dallas can feel further apart than Dallas and Fort Worth do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Dallas and Fort Worth reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Dallas report Full Fort Worth report

Dallas, TX

Rent: $1,472/mo
Median income: $70,518
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 91°F

Fort Worth, TX

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

Rent

16% cheaper

Dallas rent is 16% cheaper than Fort Worth

Dallas

Winner

$1,472/mo

Fort Worth

$1,750/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,750 in Fort Worth, so Dallas is 16% 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 $3,336 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Dallas 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

3% higher

Fort Worth's median income is 3% higher than Dallas

Dallas

$70,518

Fort Worth

Winner

$72,400

What this means for your life

Median household income is $72,400 in Fort Worth versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Fort Worth — about $1,882 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

71% lower crime

Fort Worth's crime index is 71% lower than Dallas

Dallas

109 (100 = avg)

Fort Worth

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Fort Worth's crime index is 32 versus 109 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% 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. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Dallas and Fort Worth are about even on school scores.

Dallas

A- · 84/100

Fort Worth

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Dallas, 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

Neck and neck

Dallas and Fort Worth are about even on typical weather.

Dallas

91°F typical

Fort Worth

91°F typical

What this means for your life

Outdoor comfort is close between Dallas and Fort Worth. Typical temperatures sit around 91°F in Dallas and 91°F in Fort Worth. You are choosing a flavor of season, not paradise versus misery. Visit in the season you currently like least. A long weekend in October lies; a week in July or January does not.

Fit check

Who should choose Dallas

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Dallas

Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Open the Dallas report →

Fit check

Who should choose Fort Worth

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Fort Worth is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 3% higher here ($72,400). Start with Fort Worth if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

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 71% lower than Dallas (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

Dallas vs Fort Worth, called

If safety is your priority, Fort Worth is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Dallas pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Dallas vs Fort Worth FAQ

Is Dallas cheaper than Fort Worth?: Yes. Typical rent in Dallas is $1,472 a month versus $1,750 in Fort Worth — 16% cheaper. Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas compared with $72,400 in Fort Worth, so Fort Worth has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Dallas or Fort Worth?: Fort Worth is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 109 in Dallas — 71% 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, Dallas or Fort Worth?: School composites are close: A- in Dallas and A- in Fort Worth. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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