Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Fort Worth leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Independence
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
20% less violent crime than Independence
Households earn $15,311 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
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
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Independence
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($150,800 vs $250,300)
Rent averages $293/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,313)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Worth by $15,311/yr
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Median Income
$15,311
$72,726 vs $57,415/yr
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
20% lower
458.4 vs 571.2 per 100k
Fort Worth
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 86.9°F
Independence
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$100k less
$150,800 vs $250,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 ✓ Higher | $57,415 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 8.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" ✓ Less | 13.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 122,218 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% | 60.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Worth wins 14 and Independence 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 Fort Worth to Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $150,800 median home), income ($72,726 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and Independence, MO are about 467 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.