Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington
Fort Worth, Texas — salaries, cost of living & taxes (2026)
Fort Worth is DFW's quieter half — more western, more industrial, more family-anchored. It's home to Lockheed Martin's F-35 production line, Bell Helicopter, BNSF Railway, and a growing list of relocators looking for cheaper alternatives to Dallas or Plano.
The job market
Aerospace and defense (Lockheed Martin, Bell, Elbit Systems of America), logistics (BNSF, UPS, FedEx hubs), energy services, healthcare (Cook Children's, Texas Health Resources), and a growing manufacturing base. Salaries trail Dallas modestly but housing costs much less.
Top industries: Aerospace & defense, Logistics, Energy, Manufacturing, Healthcare.
Housing & cost of living
Median home prices around $340k. Westside neighborhoods (Tanglewood, Westover Hills, Crestwood) and the suburbs of Aledo and Trophy Club command premiums; large parts of the city remain accessible to median earners. Property tax effective rate around 2.13%.
Taxes in Fort Worth
8.25% sales tax, no state income tax, and Tarrant County property tax rates that come in slightly below Dallas County. Aerospace workers benefit from Texas's lack of state tax on capital gains — Lockheed RSU holders save real money compared to peers in CA or WA.
Should you move here?
Best for engineers in defense and aerospace, logistics professionals, and families who want DFW's job market without Dallas pricing. The metro is unapologetically suburban — public transit is minimal.
What people love: Cheaper than Dallas, with major aerospace and logistics employers (Lockheed, Bell, BNSF) and easier commutes.
What to watch out for: Suburban sprawl makes a car essential, and growth has pushed property taxes upward each reassessment cycle.
Estimate your Fort Worth take-home
Texas charges $0 state income tax, but your federal bill is real. Drop in your salary to see what you keep:
Estimates use 2026 projected federal brackets, the standard deduction for your filing status, and current FICA rates. Texas has no state income tax, so your gross is not reduced by any state withholding.
Frequently asked questions
What's the median household income in Fort Worth?
The median household income in Fort Worth is approximately $70,000. That's a Census ACS estimate; individual neighborhoods vary widely.
What's the property tax rate in Fort Worth?
Fort Worth's effective property tax rate is approximately 2.13% — combined city, county, school district, and special-district rates. On a $400,000 home, that's roughly $8,520 per year. File for the homestead exemption to cap annual increases at 10% and lower the school district appraised value.
Does Fort Worth have a city or local income tax?
No. Texas has no state income tax, and no Texas city levies a local income tax on wages. Sales tax in Fort Worth is 8.25%.
How does Fort Worth compare to other Texas cities for cost of living?
Fort Worth's cost of living index is approximately 99 (U.S. average = 100). That's near the U.S. average — moderate by big-city standards.
Is Fort Worth a good place for remote workers?
Fort Worth works well for remote workers because Texas charges no state income tax. If you work for an out-of-state employer from Fort Worth, your wages are Texas-source and untaxed at the state level — except for cases involving New York's convenience-of-employer rule. See our remote worker guide for details.