Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Fort Worth leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,726
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Palmdale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Homes cost $147k less ($250,300 vs $397,500)
17% less violent crime than Palmdale
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Rent averages $312/mo less ($1,313 vs $1,625)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.3%)
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
Median income trails Palmdale by $5,688/yr
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Households earn $5,688 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
17% lower
458.4 vs 551.0 per 100k
Fort Worth
Median Home Value
$147k less
$250,300 vs $397,500
Fort Worth
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Median Income
$5,688
$78,414 vs $72,726/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | Palmdale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 ✓ Lower | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 | $78,414 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 166,895 |
| Median Age | 33.2 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 10.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Worth is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Worth wins 13 and Palmdale 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $397,500 median home), income ($72,726 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and Palmdale, CA are about 1,198 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.