Fort Worth, Texas, and Central Contra Costa, California, offer different yet enriching experiences for both residents and visitors. Living and traveling within these areas pose disparities in terms of safety and crime rates, lifestyle costs, education quality, job opportunities, infrastructure, local industries, local top employers, real estate options, neighborhoods, transportation, taxation, culinary culture, sports scenes, geographical aspects, and healthcare services. While Fort Worth provides a more economical cost of living, Central Contra Costa offers a more picturesque geographical setting.
Fort Worth carries a higher crime rate compared to Central Contra Costa. Although most crimes are property-related, Fort Worth encounters occasional violent crimes. Central Contra Costa, on the other hand, has relatively fewer crime incidents, making it one of the safer regions in California. For tourists, it is generally safe to visit both places, although personal vigilance is always recommended.
Cost of Living
Generally, the cost of living in Fort Worth is considerably lower than in Central Contra Costa, reflecting Texas's overall affordability. This encompasses housing, food, transportation, and healthcare. However, Central Contra Costa's higher living costs reflect its proximity to businesses and leisure destinations in the Bay Area.
Income Tax
One significant advantage for residents in Fort Worth is that Texas has no state income tax. Conversely, California has progressive income tax rates, which could be a consideration for those considering residing in Central Contra Costa.
Property Tax
The property tax rate in Fort Worth is higher than the national average, in part due to Texas' lack of state income tax. In contrast, Central Contra Costa's property tax rates are analogous to the state average.
Sales Tax
The combined city and state sales tax in Fort Worth is approximately 8.25%, whereas in Central Contra Costa it varies by city, but generally ranges from 8.25% to 9.25%.
Income
Type
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
Estimated median household income
$68,235
$127,452
Estimated per capita income
$34,106
$68,702
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
95.4
139.1
If you make $50,000 in Fort Worth, you will have to make $72,904 in Central Contra Costa to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Fort Worth's geography is primarily flat, characterized by prairies. Central Contra Costa enjoys a hilly terrain, with sections of Mount Diablo State Park providing breathtaking landscapes and outdoor activities.
Geographical information
Type
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
Land area
292.5 sq. miles
261.3 sq. miles
Population density
3,197.9 people per sq. mile
1,863.4 people per sq. mile
Relative area comparison
Fort Worth, TX Central Contra Costa, CA
Education
The educational institutions in Fort Worth, such as Texas Christian University and the University of North Texas Health Science Center, are well-respected. However, Central Contra Costa benefits from thriving in an academically rich environment, hosting some of the top-rated schools in the state and near prestigious universities like Berkeley and Stanford.
Fort Worth's economy is diverse and robust, with significant sectors including aeronautics, technology, and healthcare. Central Contra Costa's economy is similarly varied, with strong ties to San Francisco's financial services, technology, and healthcare industries. Both locations offer ample job opportunities for locals and newcomers.
Biggest Employers
Fort Worth's largest employers encompass American Airlines, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, and Texas Health Resources. In Central Contra Costa, top employers include Kaiser Permanente, Bank of America, and Bio-Rad Laboratories.
In Fort Worth (Tarrant County), 41.4% voted for Democrats and 57.1% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Central Contra Costa (Contra Costa County), 66.2% voted for Democrats and 31.1% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
2020
49.3%
71.8%
49.1%
26.4%
1.6%
1.8%
2016
43.2%
67.5%
51.8%
24.5%
5.0%
8.0%
2012
41.4%
66.2%
57.1%
31.1%
1.4%
2.7%
2008
43.8%
68.0%
55.5%
30.2%
0.7%
1.8%
2004
37.0%
62.6%
62.5%
36.7%
0.5%
0.7%
2000
36.9%
59.0%
60.9%
37.2%
2.3%
3.8%
1996
41.6%
55.7%
50.9%
35.2%
7.5%
9.1%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
17.3%
1.3%
33.3%
10.0%
CATHOLIC CHURCH
11.1%
21.8%
1.9%
5.2%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
2.2%
1.0%
0.9%
1.4%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.5%
0.2%
0.9%
2.0%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.4%
0.3%
1.6%
1.5%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
0.3%
0.5%
0.8%
2.3%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.3%
0.5%
0.9%
2.0%
Weather
Fort Worth experiences a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters. Central Contra Costa, conversely, enjoys a Mediterranean climate characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Tourists visiting either city will experience contrasting weather patterns, so packing accordingly is recommended.
Weather and climate
Type
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
Temperature - Average
65°F
59.1°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
71.4%
82.2%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
34.1%
29.3%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
82.1%
88.1%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
48%
58.8%
Precipitation - Yearly average
35 in
21.8 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
4.2 in
0 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
22.8%
27.7%
Sunshine amount - Average
66.6%
73.3%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
20%
22.4%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
74%
77.2%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
54%
54.7%
Wind speed - Average
10.3 mph
11.1 mph
Average climate in Fort Worth, Texas
Average climate in Central Contra Costa, California
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM25
SO2
Year
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
Central Contra Costa
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
2018
67
105
N/A
0.32
5.8
6.9
27.1
22.1
0.012
N/A
N/A
13.3
N/A
0.6
2017
67
102
N/A
0.30
6.2
7.0
27.2
25.9
0.008
N/A
N/A
11.9
N/A
0.7
2016
56
86
N/A
0.28
6.3
6.5
25.5
25.2
0.005
N/A
N/A
6.5
N/A
0.8
2015
61
94
N/A
0.34
6.5
7.6
24.8
25.8
0.004
N/A
N/A
8.8
N/A
0.5
2014
56
95
0.22
0.35
6.8
7.8
26.6
25.2
0.005
N/A
N/A
6.9
N/A
0.5
2013
64
93
0.25
0.34
6.4
9.3
26.5
21.5
0.004
N/A
N/A
7.8
N/A
0.5
2012
87
93
0.26
0.32
7.8
8.5
30.3
25.2
0.003
N/A
N/A
8.3
N/A
0.3
2011
79
99
0.23
0.35
7.9
9.0
30.7
23.0
0.003
N/A
N/A
9.8
N/A
0.6
2010
70
93
0.23
0.31
8.5
8.6
27.7
23.2
0.014
N/A
N/A
8.5
N/A
0.5
2009
81
104
0.25
0.31
8.7
9.5
29.5
23.7
0.006
N/A
N/A
10.3
N/A
0.6
2008
69
120
0.25
0.36
9.6
10.2
25.8
26.1
0.006
N/A
N/A
12.1
N/A
0.8
2007
75
104
0.30
0.36
10.6
10.7
24.6
24.1
0.006
N/A
N/A
9.7
N/A
0.7
2006
90
109
0.34
0.39
10.2
10.9
29.7
26.0
N/A
N/A
N/A
11.1
N/A
0.8
2005
102
104
0.34
0.43
10.9
11.6
28.4
22.7
N/A
N/A
11.3
10.4
0.9
1.0
2004
78
112
0.39
0.46
10.6
12.4
25.4
22.6
0.004
N/A
N/A
11.9
N/A
1.1
2003
82
84
0.40
0.51
11.1
13.4
27.2
23.1
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.7
2002
94
88
0.37
0.51
11.8
14.7
25.8
23.3
0.008
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.9
2001
16
90
0.48
0.56
N/A
15.4
N/A
22.1
0.008
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.2
2000
17
95
0.55
0.67
N/A
15.9
N/A
20.8
0.013
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.6
Natural disasters
Type
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
249.6%
9.4%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
562.8%
7,786.2%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
23%
18%
Transportation
Fort Worth offers a variety of commuting options, including buses, trains, and highways. Central Contra Costa also provides numerous transit choices, with seamless connectivity to other Bay Area cities predominantly through the BART system and local buses.
Transport
Type
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
Amtrak stations
1
0
Amtrak stations nearby
1
3
FAA registered aircraft
2
0
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
19
0
Means of transportation to work
Type
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
Bicycle
0.1%
0.5%
Bus
0.4%
1%
Carpooled
11%
9.9%
Car alone
85.8%
72.3%
Motorcycle
0.1%
0.2%
Railroad
0%
0.8%
Subway
0%
7.7%
Walked
1.3%
1.5%
Average travel time to work
Type
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
Average
28.5 min
31.8 min
Real Estate
Real estate in Fort Worth is more affordable compared to Central Contra Costa, with a variety of housing options from apartments to suburban homes. Central Contra Costa offers a wide range of upscale properties, from luxury apartments in downtown areas to detached homes with scenic views.
Neighborhoods
Fort Worth is known for its friendly neighborhoods like Tanglewood, characterized by family-friendly ambiances. Central Contra Costa hosts neighborhoods like Alamo, renowned for their natural beauty and affluent residential areas.
Houses and residents
Type
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
Houses
361,341
183,777
Average household size (people)
2.8
2.5
Houses occupied
334,286 (92.5%)
179,136 (97.5%)
Houses occupied by owners
185,197 (55.4%)
127,889 (71.4%)
Houses occupied by renters
149,089 (44.6%)
51,247 (28.6%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,068
$2,527
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$288,576
$1,269,474
Estimated median house or condo value
$249,000
Over $1,000,000
Median number of rooms in apartments
4.2
4.3
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.3
6.5
Renting percentage
40.8%
30.3%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
1,235.2
703.4
Household income disparities
43.6%
35.9%
Housing units without a mortgage
2,986 (2.4%)
20,208 (18.2%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
3,696 (3%)
418 (0.4%)
Housing units with a mortgage
121,099 (97.6%)
90,899 (81.8%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
66 (0.1%)
13,612 (12.3%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
5,171 (4.2%)
13,614 (12.3%)
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
1.8%
0.5%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
27,257
22,217
State government workers
8,587
6,705
Unpaid family workers
392
617
Industries and Occupations
Key industries in Fort Worth include aviation, healthcare, and technology, providing plenty of occupation options. Central Contra Costa, meanwhile, benefits from proximity to San Francisco, with large sectors in financial services, technology, and healthcare employing a substantial portion of the local workforce.
Both Fort Worth and Central Contra Costa provide excellent healthcare facilities. Fort Worth houses the reputable JPS Health Network, while Central Contra Costa residents have access to some of the nation's finest healthcare institutions, including the John Muir Health network.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Infrastructure in Fort Worth is continually improved and expanded, including roadways, public transportation, and facilities catering to the growing population. Central Contra Costa also boasts evolving infrastructure developments, with ongoing projects aimed to enhance highways, bridges, railways, and other public amenities.
Infrastructure
Type
Fort Worth
Central Contra Costa
TV stations
25
24
Culture and Food
Fort Worth boasts a culture steeped in cowboy heritage with Tex-Mex and barbecue dominations. Central Contra Costa has a more diverse culture, mirroring California's diverse population, offering extensive dining options, including local, organic, and international cuisines.
Sports Teams
Fort Worth has access to several professional sports teams in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, including the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. Central Contra Costa residents and visitors can enjoy games from the Golden State Warriors, San Francisco Giants, and Oakland A's.
Fort Worth, TX
Central Contra Costa, CA
