Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 Fort Worth leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663
San Antonio
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
23% less violent crime than San Antonio
Households earn $13,133 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 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
Cost of living runs 10% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $52k less ($198,000 vs $250,300)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Rent averages $124/mo less ($1,189 vs $1,313)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Worth by $13,133/yr
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Median Income
$13,133
$72,726 vs $59,593/yr
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
23% lower
458.4 vs 594.1 per 100k
Fort Worth
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
San Antonio
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$52k less
$198,000 vs $250,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 | $198,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 | $1,189 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 24.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" | 34.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Worth wins 12 and San Antonio wins 11. 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 San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $198,000 median home), income ($72,726 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and San Antonio, TX are about 240 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.