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Tarrant, Denton, Parker, Johnson and Wise counties · TX

Pros and cons of moving to Fort Worth

By Mariela Lovo Ol, REALTOR® · Updated

The pros and cons of moving to Fort Worth start with its size. It covers 347 square miles, so you get museums, rail and new communities, along with long drives, many school districts and property taxes to plan for. Here is a balanced list.

Pro: Is there rail to the airport and Dallas?

TEXRail runs 27 miles from downtown to DFW Airport Terminal B. The Trinity Railway Express links Fort Worth and Dallas Monday through Saturday.

Pro: What arts and culture are close by?

The Cultural District groups the Kimbell Art Museum, the Modern, the Amon Carter Museum and Dickies Arena. The Stockyards National Historic District adds daily cattle drives.

Pro: How much outdoor space is there?

The city manages 311 parks covering 13,464 acres. The Trinity Trails network runs more than 100 miles along the river.

Pro: Can I choose old or new housing?

You can pick a 1920s bungalow near the center or a new build in a master-planned community on the edge. Compare both in Fort Worth homes for sale.

Pro: Does Texas tax my income?

No. Texas has no personal income tax, so plan around property and sales taxes instead.

Con: How high are Fort Worth property taxes?

For tax year 2025, a home in the city and Fort Worth ISD faced about $2.16 per $100 of value before exemptions. The city's notice says its 2026 rate will effectively raise taxes by 4.01%. See property taxes in Fort Worth.

Con: How extreme is the weather?

Summer highs often reach 100 degrees in July and August. North and Central Texas average 26 tornadoes a year, and in February 2021 DFW Airport fell to -2°F.

Con: Will I drive a lot?

Most trips happen by car in a city this size, and address-level walkability varies widely. Toll roads like the Chisholm Trail Parkway add costs.

Con: Why is checking the address so important?

The city is served by Fort Worth ISD and 15 other districts, and several counties. Newer areas may add a PID assessment and HOA dues in addition to taxes.

Con: Is there airport noise?

Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport handles cargo, corporate and government flights in the north. Check flight paths before you buy near Alliance or Meacham.

Common questions

What are the downsides of living in Fort Worth?

The main trade-offs are property taxes, summer heat and spring storms, long drives in a large city, and PID or HOA costs in newer areas. Each can be planned for with the right address and budget.

What are the upsides of living in Fort Worth?

Fort Worth offers rail to DFW Airport and Dallas, a major museum district, more than 100 miles of Trinity Trails, housing from historic to brand-new, and no state income tax.

Is Fort Worth growing?

Yes. The Census Bureau estimates a population of 1,028,117 in July 2025, up from 918,915 in the 2020 Census. New subdivisions continue on the north, west and southwest edges.

Sources

  1. QuickFacts: Fort Worth city, Texas (with Southlake, Grapevine, Flower Mound, Denton), U.S. Census Bureau (read 2026-09-24)
  2. Comprehensive Plan, Chapter 12: Education, City of Fort Worth (read 2026-09-24)
  3. New to FWISD (enrollment), Fort Worth ISD (read 2026-09-24)
  4. Gold Seal Programs of Choice, Fort Worth ISD (read 2026-09-24)
  5. FWISD School Site Locator, Fort Worth ISD (read 2026-09-24)
  6. Historic Districts, City of Fort Worth (read 2026-09-24)
  7. Public Improvement Districts, City of Fort Worth (read 2026-09-24)
  8. About TEXRail, Trinity Metro (read 2026-09-24)
  9. Trinity Railway Express, Trinity Metro / DART (read 2026-09-24)
  10. Tickets and fares, Trinity Metro (read 2026-09-24)
  11. AllianceTexas and Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport, Hillwood / AllianceTexas (read 2026-09-24)
  12. Walsh community, Walsh (read 2026-09-24)
  13. Park & Recreation Department, City of Fort Worth (read 2026-09-24)
  14. Trinity Trails, Tarrant Regional Water District (read 2026-09-24)
  15. Water service, City of Fort Worth (read 2026-09-24)
  16. Solid Waste Services, City of Fort Worth (read 2026-09-24)
  17. About Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Tri-County Electric Cooperative (read 2026-09-24)
  18. Oncor (delivery utility, service territory lookup), Oncor Electric Delivery (read 2026-09-24)
  19. Power to Choose (official PUCT electricity shopping site), Public Utility Commission of Texas (read 2026-09-24)
  20. Property tax, City of Fort Worth (read 2026-09-24)
  21. Truth-in-Taxation summary, Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector (read 2026-09-24)
  22. Homestead exemption, Tarrant Appraisal District (read 2026-09-24)
  23. Property tax exemptions, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (read 2026-09-24)
  24. Property tax protests and appeals, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (read 2026-09-24)
  25. Starting a New Business (Fiscal Notes), Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (read 2026-09-24)
  26. North and Central Texas tornado climatology, National Weather Service Fort Worth (read 2026-09-24)
  27. Dallas/Fort Worth Climate Narrative, National Weather Service Fort Worth (read 2026-09-24)
  28. February 2021 Winter Event, National Weather Service Fort Worth (read 2026-09-24)
  29. Home insurance guide, Texas Department of Insurance (read 2026-09-24)
  30. Texas Water Code Section 49.452 – Notice to Purchasers, Texas Water Code (via texas.public.law) (read 2026-09-24)
  31. FEMA Flood Map Service Center, FEMA (read 2026-09-24)
  32. Texas Public Schools accountability ratings, Texas Education Agency (read 2026-09-24)
  33. Fort Worth, Texas (coordinates, counties), Wikipedia (read 2026-09-24)
  34. List of neighborhoods in Fort Worth, Texas, Wikipedia (read 2026-09-24)
  35. Near Southside, Near Southside, Inc. (read 2026-09-24)
  36. Chisholm Trail Parkway, Wikipedia (read 2026-09-24)
  37. Denton Central Appraisal District, Denton CAD (read 2026-09-24)
  38. Sales and Use Tax, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (read 2026-09-24)
  39. Texas Sales and Use Tax Rates – July 2026, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (read 2026-09-24)
  40. Valuing Property, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (read 2026-09-24)
  41. 2026 Statewide Multi-Year Ratings Spreadsheet, Texas Education Agency (read 2026-09-24)
  42. Residential Permitting, City of Fort Worth Development Services (read 2026-09-24)
  43. Texas Health and Safety Code Section 757.002 – Application, Texas Health and Safety Code (via texas.public.law) (read 2026-09-24)
  44. Texas Property Code Section 82.157 – Resale of Units, Texas Property Code (via texas.public.law) (read 2026-09-24)
  45. Texas Property Code Section 207.003 – Delivery of Subdivision Information, Texas Property Code (via texas.public.law) (read 2026-09-24)
  46. 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance Program Types, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (read 2026-09-24)
  47. HomeStyle Renovation mortgage, Fannie Mae (read 2026-09-24)
  48. New Home Contract (Incomplete Construction), Texas Real Estate Commission (read 2026-09-24)
  49. North Texas Tollway Authority, North Texas Tollway Authority (read 2026-09-24)
  50. DFW Airport facts, DFW International Airport (read 2026-09-24)
  51. Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, Fort Worth Stockyards (read 2026-09-24)
  52. Visit the Kimbell, Kimbell Art Museum (read 2026-09-24)
  53. Visit, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (read 2026-09-24)
  54. Visit, Amon Carter Museum of American Art (read 2026-09-24)
  55. About Dickies Arena, Dickies Arena (read 2026-09-24)
  56. Fort Worth Meacham International Airport, City of Fort Worth (read 2026-09-24)

Last reviewed: 2026-09-24. Descriptions cover places and amenities, not the people who live there. We are committed to the Fair Housing Act.