Fort Worth vs Tallahassee: Cost of Living Comparison
How does the cost of living in Fort Worth, Texas compare to Tallahassee, Florida? Below is a side-by-side breakdown of housing costs, income, wages, and taxes using official government data.
Summary: Fort Worth is the more affordable city overall. Housing costs are 2% lower in Fort Worth compared to Tallahassee, while rent is 13% higher.
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | Tallahassee, FL | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Median Home Value | $250,300 | $256,400 | -2.4% |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 | $1,165 | +12.7% |
| Income | |||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 | $52,899 | +37.5% |
| Per Capita Income | $35,428 | $33,803 | +4.8% |
| Taxes | |||
| State Income Tax Rate | None | None | same |
| Combined Sales Tax | 8.2% | 7.0% | +17.0% |
| Demographics | |||
| Population | 924,663 | 198,259 | +366.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022), Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. State/local tax rates from Tax Foundation (2024).
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Fort Worth
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Tallahassee
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Key Takeaways
- Housing: The median home in Fort Worth costs $250,300 compared to $256,400 in Tallahassee — a 2% discount.
- Rent: Median rent is $1,313/mo in Fort Worth vs $1,165/mo in Tallahassee.
- Income: Median household income is $72,726 in Fort Worth and $52,899 in Tallahassee.
Methodology
This comparison uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2022) for median household income, median home value, median gross rent, per capita income, and population. State and local tax rates are sourced from the Tax Foundation. Mortgage rates are from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (updated weekly).