Moving from Houston, TX to Fort Worth, TX
Moving from Houston, TX to Fort Worth, TX covers 263 mi and about 4h 49m by car through 1 state(s). That is far enough that housing, cost-of-living, climate, and job market can all move meaningfully — the sections below pull current figures from BEA, Zillow, the Census Bureau, BLS, and NOAA to map exactly where the differences fall.
263 mi · 4h 49m by car · TX
Distance & route
| Route through | TX |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 45, US 287, US 287 BUS |
| Major cities en route | Sugar Land, Pasadena, Pearland, League City, Mesquite |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Houston | Fort Worth | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 98.629 | 103.09 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 95.288 | 90.711 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 100.639 | 102.838 | 100.0 |
| Services | 104.51 | 117.874 | 100.0 |
Overall cost of living in Fort Worth and Houston is within ±5% on the BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) — plan your budget on category-level differences instead.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Typical home value in Fort Worth is 4.5% above Houston ($298,051 vs $264,336 on Zillow ZHVI, 2026-03).
YoY change: Houston -2.9%, Fort Worth -2.8%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Houston | Fort Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 71°F | 68°F |
| January avg low | 44°F | 37°F |
| July avg high | 93°F | 97°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | — |
| Annual precipitation | 54.1" | — |
Annual average temperatures in Houston (70.6°F) and Fort Worth (67.5°F) stay within 5°F of each other (NOAA normals).
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: HOUSTON-PORT, TX US, FT WORTH MEACHAM FLD NAAF, TX US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Houston | Fort Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,300,419 | 941,311 |
| Median household income | $62,894 | $76,602 |
| Median age | 34.3 | 33.4 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 20.6% |
| Avg household size | 2.51 | 2.82 |
Median household income in Fort Worth is 4.5% above Houston ($62,894 vs $76,602, ACS 5-year 2023).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in Fort Worth MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 523,660 | $44,430 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 412,270 | $39,950 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 368,400 | $36,710 |
| Management Occupations | 350,940 | $117,410 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 341,240 | $29,000 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Best time to move
Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.
To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.
Packing & arrival checklist
- Air conditioning matters: July highs in Fort Worth average 97°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
- Coastal Texas sees hurricanes June through November; inland areas face severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes in spring.
- Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
- Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
Frequently asked
How does the job market in Fort Worth compare to Houston?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $48,440 in the Fort Worth MSA vs $46,960 in the Houston MSA, on total employment of 3,966,500 and 3,179,460 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
How much do homes cost in Fort Worth compared to Houston?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $298,051 in Fort Worth vs $264,336 in Houston — a 12.8% higher figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
How does household income compare in Houston vs Fort Worth?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $76,602 in Fort Worth vs $62,894 in Houston — a 21.8% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
When is the best time to move from Houston to Fort Worth?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 263 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
Is Fort Worth more expensive than Houston?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Fort Worth is 4.5% higher than Houston (103.09 vs 98.629, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How far is Fort Worth, TX from Houston, TX?
The driving distance is 263 mi and the route typically takes 4h 49m via I 45 and US 287. The trip crosses 1 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Houston.
City profiles: Houston, TX · Fort Worth, TX.