Fort Worth, Texas is the 16th largest city in the United States, and it actually came before Dallas. As you’re about to see, Fort Worth is a city all its own, with plenty to offer the aspiring Texan.
The Cost of Living
In Fort Worth, the average salary is around $50,000 a year. The cost of living is just 2% higher than the national average. For reference, that makes the cost of living roughly equal to that of Dallas, TX, and Phoenix, AZ; and cheaper than Miami, FL, and Chicago, IL. If you’re looking to buy a house in Fort Worth, the average price for a three-bedroom, two-bath home is just over $263,000. If apartment living is more your thing, then be prepared to spend roughly $1,300 a month for a two-bedroom apartment.
Jobs in Fort Worth
The Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex is home to an abundance of Fortune 500 companies, ranking fourth highest in the United States. American Airlines calls the DFW International Airport. They employ more than 25,000 people in the metro area. Other companies with headquarters in Fort Worth include BNSF Railway, Pier 1 Imports, and GE Manufacturing Solutions. All these companies are really helping out too—new research suggests that the DFW job market may be the best in the country.
Getting Around the City
The Fort Worth Transportation Authority, or as locals call it, The T, is Fort Worth’s public transportation system. The T provides dozens of bus routes throughout the area. Fort Worth also has the Trinity Railway Express, a commuter rail that connects downtown Fort Worth to downtown Dallas, as well as several stations between the two cities.
Fort Worth’s dedication to environmentally friendly transportation opportunities has grown over the last decade. The city’s bike-share program, B-Cycle, has over 350 bikes at 46 different locations throughout the city for rent. Renting is easy, just swipe a credit card, unlock the bike, and then return at any station. According to WalkScore, Fort Worth is the 41st most walkable large city in the US.
The Weather
Summers are hot in Texas. And Fort Worth is no exception. In Fort Worth, the average high in the summer is above 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The tradeoff is that winter in Fort Worth is fairly mild, most days temperatures range from 40-60 degrees—well above freezing.
Culture Abounds
The Fort Worth Cultural District is located just a few miles west of downtown. In a single, park-like setting, you can span virtually the entire history of art, from priceless antiquities to Impressionist milestones to modern artworks. It’s a wonderful place to find inspiration, broaden your horizons and spend some quality time with your family.
The Cultural District is also home to the Will Rogers Memorial Center, one of the top equestrian show facilities, Dickies Arena, the home of the Annual Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo and the acclaimed theater, Casa Mañana.
Near the Cultural District, you can explore nature’s masterpieces at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, The Fort Worth Zoo, and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, or go jogging or biking along the river in Trinity Park. Explore the Fort Worth Cultural District by foot as all five museums are within walking distance or pick up a bike at one of the many Fort Worth Bike Sharing stations along the way.
