Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Fort Worth leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
39% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Households earn $15,572 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 49°F
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 6% higher than Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $37k less ($213,300 vs $250,300)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 97°F
Rent averages $88/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,313)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Worth by $15,572/yr
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Median Income
$15,572
$72,726 vs $57,154/yr
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
39% lower
458.4 vs 752.4 per 100k
Fort Worth
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$37k less
$213,300 vs $250,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ 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 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Worth wins 15 and Portsmouth wins 8. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $213,300 median home), income ($72,726 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and Portsmouth, VA are about 1,221 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.