Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
San Diego, CA
🏆 San Diego leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,726
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
924,663
San Diego
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,383,987 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Homes cost $533k less ($250,300 vs $783,300)
Rent averages $767/mo less ($1,313 vs $2,080)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.3%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than San Diego
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Diego by $25,931/yr
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
San Diego, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,931 more per year on average
10% less violent crime than Fort Worth
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 97°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $783,300
Higher rents — median is $2,080/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Worth
Median Home Value
$533k less
$250,300 vs $783,300
Fort Worth
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
16.8°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 79.8°F
San Diego
Median Income
$25,931
$98,657 vs $72,726/yr
San Diego
Violent Crime
10% lower
412.2 vs 458.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 ✓ Lower | $783,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 ✓ Lower | $2,080⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 | $98,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | San Diego Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 | 1,383,987 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 19.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs San Diego's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Worth is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Diego leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Worth wins 8 and San Diego wins 15. 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 Diego or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $783,300 median home), income ($72,726 vs $98,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and San Diego, CA are about 1,148 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.