Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Homes cost $132k less ($250,300 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $159/mo less ($1,313 vs $1,472)
Cooler summers — July highs near 97°F vs 106°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
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 59°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Median Income
$704
$72,726 vs $72,022/yr
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
3% lower
458.4 vs 470.3 per 100k
Fort Worth
Median Home Value
$132k less
$250,300 vs $382,100
Tempe
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 96.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 33.2 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 10.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Worth wins 11 and Tempe wins 12. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $382,100 median home), income ($72,726 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and Tempe, AZ are about 845 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.