Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Fort Worth leads 12 of 22 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,726
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Lakewood
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Homes cost $244k less ($250,300 vs $494,100)
42% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $352/mo less ($1,313 vs $1,665)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lakewood by $10,060/yr
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.4%)
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $10,060 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
42% lower
458.4 vs 787.2 per 100k
Fort Worth
Median Home Value
$244k less
$250,300 vs $494,100
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 85.9°F
Lakewood
Median Income
$10,060
$82,786 vs $72,726/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Worth is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 12 of 22 categories. Fort Worth wins 12 and Lakewood wins 10. 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 Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $494,100 median home), income ($72,726 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and Lakewood, CO are about 644 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.