What it's like to live in Fort Worth
Fort Worth is a major city in Texas with a population that has grown fast since 2020, several well-rated hospitals, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Fort Worth deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, hot summers, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Fast-growing population
- Several well-rated hospitals
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Fort Worth compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Fort Worth
Based on Fort Worth's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,018
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $60,360 a year
- 54% of Fort Worth renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$60,600
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $30,300
- Homes cost 3.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,509/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,509 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $303,000. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $303,000 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.0% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.0%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 14% above US
375 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 2221/100k · Fort Worth Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
27 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 27.1 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 94°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 37°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
14 hospitals
There are 14 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.8 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 11% below US
32% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 32% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
290 public schools inside the boundary
There are 290 public schools inside the boundary and 36 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Waco Mammoth National Monument (82 miles away).
Bottom line
Fort Worth's strongest points are a population that has grown fast since 2020 and several well-rated hospitals; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,509/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Fort Worth
All Texas guides →Moving to Haltom City →
5 mi away · pop. 45,767
Rent $1,415/mo · Income $59,057
Compare with Fort Worth →Moving to White Settlement →
7 mi away · pop. 18,150
Rent $1,253/mo · Income $56,784
Compare with Fort Worth →