Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Fort Worth, TX
🏆 Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Fort Worth
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,726
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $33,288 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Fort Worth
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Homes cost $303k less ($250,300 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $393/mo less ($1,313 vs $1,706)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 47°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $33,288/yr
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$33,288
$106,014 vs $72,726/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
38% lower
285.6 vs 458.4 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
Fort Worth
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Worth
Median Home Value
$303k less
$250,300 vs $553,000
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Fort Worth, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $250,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,313 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $72,726 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | FORT WORTH ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 2.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 924,663 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 56.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Fort Worth's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fort Worth is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 14 and Fort Worth wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arvada to Fort Worth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $250,300 median home), income ($106,014 vs $72,726), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Fort Worth, TX are about 652 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.