Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 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
Salem
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($250,300 vs $349,500)
14% less violent crime than Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
Households earn $5,186 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Salem, OR
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
Rent averages $89/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,313)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Median Income
$5,186
$72,726 vs $67,540/yr
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
14% lower
458.4 vs 532.2 per 100k
Fort Worth
Median Home Value
$99k less
$250,300 vs $349,500
Fort Worth
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Worth wins 15 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $349,500 median home), income ($72,726 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and Salem, OR are about 1,606 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.