Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Fort Worth, TX
🏆 Fort Worth leads 15 of 23 categories
Downey
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052
Fort Worth
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,726
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $11,510 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 97°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Homes cost $429k less ($250,300 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $501/mo less ($1,313 vs $1,814)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Downey by $11,510/yr
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$11,510
$84,236 vs $72,726/yr
Fort Worth
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Worth
Median Home Value
$429k less
$250,300 vs $679,000
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Fort Worth, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $250,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,313 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $72,726 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 10.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 84.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | FORT WORTH ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 58.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 35.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 924,663 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Fort Worth's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fort Worth is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 15 of 23 categories. Downey wins 8 and Fort Worth wins 15. 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 Downey to Fort Worth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $250,300 median home), income ($84,236 vs $72,726), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Fort Worth, TX are about 1,200 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.