Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 16 of 23 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,726
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Homes cost $479k less ($250,300 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $751/mo less ($1,313 vs $2,064)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $26,687/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
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.2%)
San Marcos, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Fort Worth
Households earn $26,687 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Fort Worth
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
$479k less
$250,300 vs $728,800
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 87.2°F
San Marcos
Median Income
$26,687
$99,413 vs $72,726/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
51% lower
222.4 vs 458.4 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | San Marcos, 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 | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Worth is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 16 of 23 categories. Fort Worth wins 7 and San Marcos wins 16. 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 Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $728,800 median home), income ($72,726 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and San Marcos, CA are about 1,148 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.