Fort Worth, Texas, and Louisville, Kentucky, are two significant American cities offering distinct lifestyle experiences for residents and visitors alike. While Fort Worth is known for its cowboy history, serene lifestyle, and warm weather, Louisville offers a diverse cultural scene, a lower cost of living, and distinct seasonal weather. This comparison extensively explores the contrasts and similarities between these two cities in terms of crime and safety, weather, cost of living, education, work and economy, and more, enabling those considering relocation or tourism to make an informed decision.
While no city is immune to crime, there are distinctions between Fort Worth and Louisville. Fort Worth reported lower crime rates compared to the national average, making it a safer city overall. On the other hand, Louisville's crime rates tend to be higher than the national average. Efforts are ongoing in both cities to address and reduce the crime rates. For tourists, venturing into well-populated areas during daylight hours is generally safer.
Cost of Living
Cost of living-wise, Fort Worth and Louisville diverge significantly. Louisville is generally cheaper than Fort Worth, especially concerning housing costs. Groceries, healthcare, and transportation also tend to be more affordable in Louisville. Whether for permanent relocation or short-term tourism, Louisville offers a more pocket-friendly experience.
Income Tax
In Texas, residents enjoy the benefit of no state income tax, which extends to Fort Worth. On the other hand, Louisville residents are required to pay state income tax, which ranges from 2% to 6% based on income.
Property Tax
While Texans don't pay state income tax, they are subject to higher property taxes. The average property tax rate in Fort Worth is about 2.17%. Louisville, in contrast, has a significantly lower average property tax rate at roughly 0.93%.
Sales Tax
Sales tax in Fort Worth is relatively high at 8.25%, which includes both state and city taxes. In contrast, Louisville's combined state and city sales tax is lower at 6%, making purchases generally cheaper.
Income
Type
Fort Worth
Louisville
Estimated median household income
$68,235
$44,270
Estimated per capita income
$34,106
$29,894
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
95.4
94.1
If you make $50,000 in Louisville, you will have to make $50,691 in Fort Worth to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Geographically, Fort Worth, part of the North Central Plains, is flat with some hilly areas, while Louisville features a diverse landscape of flatlands, hills, and the scenic Ohio River.
Both cities offer competitive educational opportunities. Fort Worth boasts numerous quality public, private, and charter schools and higher education institutions like Texas Christian University. Louisville is similarly matched with prominent universities such as the University of Louisville and Bellarmine University. Particularly, Louisville stands out for its adult education programs and vocational training institutions.
Fort Worth boasts a robust and diverse economy driven by industries like aerospace, technology, healthcare, and logistics. Conversely, Louisville's economy is more centered around shipping and cargo, healthcare, and food and beverage industries. Both cities offer ample job opportunities, with Fort Worth having a slightly lower unemployment rate.
Biggest Employers
Among the largest employers in Fort Worth are American Airlines, Lockheed Martin, and Texas Health Resources. In Louisville, the largest employers include UPS, Ford, and the Norton Healthcare hospital system.
There were 7,236 building permits issued in Fort Worth in 2012 (4810 more than in 2011) compared to 47 building permits issued in Louisville in 2012 (47 more than in 2011).
In Fort Worth (Tarrant County), 41.4% voted for Democrats and 57.1% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Louisville (Jefferson County), 55.0% voted for Democrats and 43.8% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Fort Worth
Louisville
Fort Worth
Louisville
Fort Worth
Louisville
2020
49.3%
59.2%
49.1%
39.1%
1.6%
1.7%
2016
43.2%
54.1%
51.8%
40.8%
5.0%
5.2%
2012
41.4%
55.0%
57.1%
43.8%
1.4%
1.2%
2008
43.8%
55.6%
55.5%
43.5%
0.7%
0.9%
2004
37.0%
50.6%
62.5%
48.9%
0.5%
0.5%
2000
36.9%
49.8%
60.9%
48.2%
2.3%
2.0%
1996
41.6%
51.5%
50.9%
41.0%
7.5%
7.4%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Fort Worth
Louisville
Fort Worth
Louisville
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
17.3%
14.3%
33.3%
25.0%
CATHOLIC CHURCH
11.1%
16.3%
1.9%
8.5%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
2.2%
0.9%
0.9%
1.4%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.5%
0.2%
0.9%
0.7%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.4%
0.3%
1.6%
1.0%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
0.3%
0.9%
0.8%
2.6%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.3%
0.4%
0.9%
1.6%
Weather
Climate-wise, Fort Worth usually experiences a hotter and drier climate with mild winters, while Louisville experiences all four seasons, including hot, humid summers and cold winters with occasional snowfall. Consequently, your preference for a particular climate might influence your choice. Tourists looking for winter sports would lean towards Louisville, while those preferring a warmer climate might find Fort Worth more attractive.
Weather and climate
Type
Fort Worth
Louisville
Temperature - Average
65°F
56.9°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
71.4%
73.6%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
34.1%
35%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
82.1%
85%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
48%
50%
Precipitation - Yearly average
35 in
43.8 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
4.2 in
31.4 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
22.8%
15.5%
Sunshine amount - Average
66.6%
59.8%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
20%
25%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
74%
66%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
54%
41%
Wind speed - Average
10.3 mph
8.4 mph
Average climate in Fort Worth, Texas
Average climate in Louisville, Kentucky
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Fort Worth
Louisville
Fort Worth
Louisville
Fort Worth
Louisville
Fort Worth
Louisville
Louisville
Fort Worth
Louisville
Fort Worth
Louisville
2018
67
89
N/A
0.27
5.8
11.9
27.1
25.5
18.2
N/A
N/A
9.7
N/A
0.8
2017
67
77
N/A
0.27
6.2
12.2
27.2
26.5
17.3
N/A
N/A
9.2
N/A
0.6
2016
56
91
N/A
0.30
6.3
11.6
25.5
26.7
15.9
N/A
N/A
9.0
N/A
0.6
2015
61
92
N/A
0.31
6.5
12.3
24.8
25.4
17.4
N/A
N/A
10.7
N/A
1.0
2014
56
92
0.22
0.32
6.8
12.8
26.6
26.1
18.3
N/A
N/A
12.0
N/A
2.0
2013
64
83
0.25
N/A
6.4
N/A
26.5
27.8
16.9
N/A
N/A
12.0
N/A
2.1
2012
87
102
0.26
N/A
7.8
N/A
30.3
26.2
19.2
N/A
N/A
12.7
N/A
2.6
2011
79
111
0.23
N/A
7.9
N/A
30.7
26.9
19.7
N/A
N/A
13.3
N/A
3.1
2010
70
109
0.23
N/A
8.5
N/A
27.7
27.3
21.7
N/A
N/A
13.2
N/A
3.1
2009
81
90
0.25
N/A
8.7
13.6
29.5
27.5
18.9
N/A
N/A
13.4
N/A
3.1
2008
69
101
0.25
0.35
9.6
15.5
25.8
29.6
20.6
N/A
N/A
15.0
N/A
4.3
2007
75
111
0.30
0.44
10.6
15.9
24.6
32.0
24.0
N/A
N/A
14.8
N/A
5.9
2006
90
80
0.34
0.66
10.2
15.2
29.7
26.5
22.6
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
3.7
2005
102
86
0.34
0.39
10.9
16.9
28.4
27.4
24.6
N/A
11.3
N/A
0.9
4.1
2004
78
77
0.39
0.36
10.6
16.8
25.4
26.2
22.3
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
4.6
2003
82
83
0.40
0.46
11.1
17.9
27.2
24.6
24.0
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
5.0
2002
94
95
0.37
0.49
11.8
17.6
25.8
27.2
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
4.4
2001
16
95
0.48
0.56
N/A
18.2
N/A
28.3
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
5.6
2000
17
103
0.55
0.53
N/A
15.7
N/A
27.8
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
7.6
Natural disasters
Type
Fort Worth
Louisville
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
249.6%
165.7%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
562.8%
213%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
23%
17%
Transportation
Fort Worth's population relies heavily on private vehicles, although the city offers limited public transit options through buses. Louisville's transportation is similarly car-dependent, but there are efforts for better public transit, like TARC (Transit Authority of River City), and biking options are available in some areas.
Transport
Type
Fort Worth
Louisville
Amtrak stations
1
0
Amtrak stations nearby
1
1
FAA registered aircraft
2
655
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
19
4
Means of transportation to work
Type
Fort Worth
Louisville
Bicycle
0.1%
0.4%
Bus
0.4%
6.7%
Carpooled
11%
12.6%
Car alone
85.8%
73.5%
Motorcycle
0.1%
0.1%
Walked
1.3%
4.1%
Average travel time to work
Type
Fort Worth
Louisville
Average
28.5 min
21.1 min
Real Estate
Whether buying, renting, or investing, Louisville is generally more affordable than Fort Worth. However, both cities offer diverse options from urban apartments to suburban family houses, with Fort Worth being slightly pricier due to high demand.
Neighborhoods
Both cities boast a variety of neighborhoods catering to diverse preferences. From the historical districts of Fairmount in Fort Worth to Butchertown in Louisville, there are plenty of options whether you prefer urban living, suburban tranquility or the allure of historic neighborhoods. Both cities offer safety, walkability, and a sense of community in their neighborhoods.
Houses and residents
Type
Fort Worth
Louisville
Houses
361,341
121,107
Average household size (people)
2.8
2.2
Houses occupied
334,286 (92.5%)
111,354 (91.9%)
Houses occupied by owners
185,197 (55.4%)
58,481 (52.5%)
Houses occupied by renters
149,089 (44.6%)
52,873 (47.5%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,068
$753.66
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$288,576
$198,186
Estimated median house or condo value
$249,000
$180,781
Median number of rooms in apartments
4.2
3.2
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.3
5.5
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
1,235.2
1,949.6
Household income disparities
43.6%
50.8%
Housing units without a mortgage
2,986 (2.4%)
19,560 (37%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
3,696 (3%)
121 (0.2%)
Housing units with a mortgage
121,099 (97.6%)
33,359 (63%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
66 (0.1%)
4,661 (8.8%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
5,171 (4.2%)
4,100 (7.7%)
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
1.8%
1.1%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
27,257
5,520
State government workers
8,587
5,067
Unpaid family workers
392
295
Industries and Occupations
Aerospace and aviation, healthcare, and logistics dominate the Fort Worth job market. Meanwhile, Louisville is known for its healthcare sector, shipping and cargo services (thanks to the presence of UPS's global air-freight hub), and an established food and beverage industry.
Both cities are well-equipped in terms of healthcare with numerous hospitals and clinics. Fort Worth has one of the country's leading healthcare systems, while Louisville is home to the renowned University of Louisville Hospital.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Fort Worth
Louisville
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
In terms of infrastructure, Fort Worth stands tall with its well-developed roadways, transit systems, and modern amenities. Louisville is also well-equipped but faces some challenges concerning traffic congestion and road condition. However, it's worth noting that both cities are investing in infrastructure upgrades and improvements.
Infrastructure
Type
Fort Worth
Louisville
Hospitals
76
20
TV stations
25
14
Arenas or stadiums
7
2
Bank branches located here
175
255
Bank institutions located here
42
25
Main business address for public companies
24
31
Drinking water stations with no reported violations in the past
3
0
Drinking water stations with reported violations in the past
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
Fort Worth
Louisville
1999
3,575
879
2000
2,473
799
2001
2,109
535
2002
1,701
490
2003
2,183
639
2004
3,202
881
2005
4,261
1,116
2006
4,161
1,037
2007
2,871
685
2008
1,256
397
2009
585
253
Culture and Food
Culturally, both cities offer a wealth of experiences. Fort Worth is renowned for its cowboy heritage, authentic BBQ spots, and a thriving arts scene, with key attractions like the Kimbell Art Museum. Louisville highlights include the famous Kentucky Derby, Southern comfort food, and the vibrant NuLu (New Louisville) district boasting art galleries, specialty stores, and antique shops.
Sports Teams
Sports fans will find plenty to cheer for in both cities. Fort Worth citizens are fervently supportive of their Dallas Cowboys (NFL) and Texas Rangers (MLB), while Louisville residents rally behind the Louisville Cardinals at the college level, as the city does not have any major league professional teams.
Fort Worth, TX
Louisville, KY
