Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Midland leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Midland
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Homes cost $30k less ($250,300 vs $280,700)
Rent averages $87/mo less ($1,313 vs $1,400)
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 Midland by $17,722/yr
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.2%)
Midland, TX
Pros
20% less violent crime than Fort Worth
Households earn $17,722 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Median Home Value
$30k less
$250,300 vs $280,700
Midland
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$17,722
$90,448 vs $72,726/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
20% lower
364.9 vs 458.4 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 ✓ Lower | $280,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 84.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 95.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" | 1.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 132,490 |
| Median Age | 33.2 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 10.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Worth wins 8 and Midland 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 Fort Worth to Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $280,700 median home), income ($72,726 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and Midland, TX are about 283 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.