Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Fort Worth leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Raleigh
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($250,300 vs $347,000)
6% less violent crime than Raleigh
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 52°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
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.5%)
Median income trails Raleigh by $5,905/yr
Raleigh, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Households earn $5,905 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 97°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
6% lower
458.4 vs 488.8 per 100k
Fort Worth
Median Home Value
$97k less
$250,300 vs $347,000
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 90.6°F
Raleigh
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Income
$5,905
$78,631 vs $72,726/yr
Raleigh
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 465,517 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Worth wins 13 and Raleigh 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $347,000 median home), income ($72,726 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and Raleigh, NC are about 1,086 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.