The Lone Star State hosts more than five major cities, along with beachfront towns and desert sprawls. If you’re thinking of moving to Texas, you’ve got a lot of land to choose from.
Fort Worth and San Antonio are major options to consider; they’ve likely popped up on your radar for their vibrant communities and relatively affordable cost of living. How do you choose between two excellent cities in the same state?
Cost of Living
When choosing a large city, the cost of living is the first factor to consider. If you can’t afford to rent or buy, you won’t be able to enjoy the amenities the city has to offer unless you live farther out of town. Compared to other major cities in the US, both San Antonio and Fort Worth are considered to have a lower cost of living. Utilities, groceries, and transportation costs are similar between the two cities. At the lowest, expect to pay $200-$250 a month for utilities in either town.
Housing, on the other hand, is slightly more affordable in San Antonio. The average home prices in San Antonio are just under $300,000, while those in Fort Worth average closer to $350,000. San Antonio VA loans or FHA programs make homeownership even more affordable. Fort Worth offers these loans as well, but you’re still likely to pay more for a similar home. If you’re on a tighter budget, San Antonio is the best bet.
Job Market
If you’re looking for a thriving job market, you won’t have a problem with either San Antonio or Fort Worth. Both cities are major economic hubs, however, and you won’t find job shortages in either city; their unemployment rates are equal at 3.4.
Since Fort Worth is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, you’ll see a lot of thriving industries, especially in aviation, logistics, technology, and defense. If your expertise lies in tech, you may have more options in Fort Worth. Finance is also quickly growing here.
San Antonio’s booming markets include healthcare, cybersecurity, tourism, and the military. If you’re looking for a career in the medical field, consider San Antonio.
Culture
While both Fort Worth and San Antonio offer some rich and welcoming Texas culture, their origins, lifestyles, and histories vary slightly. For a rustic urban feel, opt for Fort Worth. For a colorful and festive historic vibe, choose San Antonio.
Fort Worth enjoys the nickname “Cowtown” for its thriving role in the cattle driving industry after the Civil War. If you love authentic Western culture, you’ll find no shortage of it here, from rodeos to country music. You can enjoy rustic charms without sacrificing modern metropolis amenities.
San Antonio enjoys a unique blend of Spanish influences and Western flair. Here, you’ll enjoy Spanish colonial architecture, the Alamo historic district, and the annual Fiesta festival celebrating the heroes of the Alamo.
Weather
Since both cities are situated in Texas, you’ll enjoy plenty of warm weather, and summers are very hot. Humidity in both cities averages from 60% to 80%.
Fort Worth is located farther north than San Antonio, resulting in slightly colder winters, with an occasional chance of freezing temperatures. You may even get some measurable snow. You’re less likely to get a freeze in San Antonio, as it’s further south. If you’d prefer a bigger chance of a temperature drop in the winter, Fort Worth is a better contender, but don’t expect major snowfall from either city.
Schools
If you have kids or are planning for them, you’ll want to know about the school district quality in the cities you’re considering. Thankfully, both cities have some excellent suburban districts. Fort Worth’s Keller and Southlake are particularly highly rated. Noteworthy school districts in San Antonio include San Antonio ISD, Boerne ISD, and Northside ISD.
Like anywhere, the quality of the school district varies depending on the specific part of town you’re looking at. Research the neighborhoods you’re eyeing to see ratings of school districts in that area.
Things to Do
Whether you’re single or part of a family, you’ll have a lot of amenities and activities to choose from in both San Antonio and Fort Worth.
If you’re looking at Fort Worth, you can enjoy all the amenities of its twin city, Dallas, as well. If you’re looking for Western experiences, you can find numerous country music concerts, cattle drives, and rodeo shows. On the urban side, you’ll find plenty of museums, performing arts, water gardens, and the Fort Worth Zoo.
San Antonio also hosts a large zoo. The River Walk is a popular loop that connects you to numerous nightlife, bars, restaurants, and beautiful scenery. Japanese gardens, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, The Alamo, and SeaWorld give young adults and families plenty to do.
Conclusion
Texas has many gorgeous and thriving cities to choose from. Fort Worth and San Antonio are just two of many. If you prefer a flourishing, rustic, urban city with booming tech and aviation industries, you may want to consider Fort Worth, if slightly higher costs aren’t a problem. San Antonio’s vibrant and colorful festive culture, combined with Spanish influences, a lower cost of living, and exciting theme parks, makes it an excellent choice as well. Consider what you need from your city and what your lifestyle budget allows. When you compare both options carefully, you can make the most informed decision about your new and thriving Texas lifestyle.
