Thinking about a move to Fort Worth? The historic southern half of the DFW metroplex offers plenty of entertainment, job opportunities, and great things to do for everybody from young professionals to retirees. Here are 17 things to know about living in Fort Worth!
Affordable Cost of Living in Texas
Photo via @skylinesoftexas
Just because everything’s bigger in Texas doesn’t mean living expenses have to be bigger, too. In fact, the cost of living in Fort Worth is 5% lower than the national average with a median home price that’s 29% lower than the national average. When finding a home in Fort Worth, you’re looking at a median home price of $131,100 and a median monthly rent of $931. This makes Fort Worth a great spot for retirees looking for more space than a traditional city, or young professionals looking to break into the DFW market without paying Dallas home and rental prices of $142,600 and $888, respectively.
Jobs Are Plentiful in Fort Worth
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It’s no secret that Cowtown is one of the hottest places to find a job in recent years thanks to its rampant population growth and many big companies moving to Texas in search of more accommodating tax laws. And with an unemployment rate of just 4.3%, Fort Worth’s job market is rich with options for residents. Find a job with Fortune 500 companies in Fort Worth, like the major commercial airliner American Airlines—which operates out of the famous Dallas Fort Worth Airport as well as the aerospace innovation-oriented conglomerate Textron. Look for employment with other big companies like Lockheed Martin, another aerospace and defense innovation company. Work at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, a major employer in Fort Worth and military base that houses and trains reserve members of the U.S. naval forces. Working in the health industry? Foster a career with a big Fort Worth job provider, JPS Health systems, which almost every hospital in the county operates under.
Pick From Top-Notch Schools in Texas
Photo via @texaschristianuniversity
Fort Worth is home to several higher education institutions that provide excellent opportunities for students. Become part of a campus life full of tradition with over 200 student organizations at Texas Christian University, which takes its 18 D-1 athletics teams almost as seriously as its impressive academics—its business school is ranked as one of the best in the nation. TCU students can also finish their medical degrees at the Fort Worth School of Medicine. See why the nursing school at Texas Wesleyan University is so popular for students entering the healthcare field, or break into healthcare as a doctor, dentist, or more with an education from the UNT Health Science Center. Or find a religious-based liberal arts education you’ll enjoy at Texas Baptist College.
Explore the Great Outdoors in FW
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Great weather and tons of parks make it easy for Fort Worth residents to spend lots of time outside! Stop and smell the roses at Fort Worth Botanic Garden, a 109-acre park with more than 2,500 different plant species. Hike more than 20 miles of trails at one of the largest city-owned nature centers in the U.S., Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge. Learn about wildlife and get into some monkey business at the family-friendly Fort Worth Zoo. Or paddleboard, kayak, or canoe with Backwoods Paddlesports, or bring your favorite floatie to jam out at events like Rockin’ The River at Panther Island.
Visit the U.S. Treasury in the South
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Did you know that 60% of America’s money is printed in Fort Worth? Aside from Washington D.C., Fort Worth is the only other place where money can be printed in the U.S. Take a free tour of the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing and watch money be printed all around you as you stroll through the building. View artifacts and visit interactive exhibits that share the history of America’s currency and how it has evolved.
Have Fun in Fort Worth’s Vibrant Downtown Area
Photo via @jubileeswing
From beautiful architecture and garden layouts, Downtown Fort Worth has just about everything you could want in a modern city. Have a relaxing stroll through the flowing water architecture or still reflection pool at the Fort Worth Water Gardens. Spend an evening at Sundance Square, a 35 square-block entertainment district filled with local restaurants, shops, boutiques, and live music halls everyone can enjoy. With a beautiful mix of historical brick and modernized buildings, Sundance Square is the perfect representation of how Fort Worth balances its appreciation of Texas roots with the reinvention of the city’s future. Make sure to stop by some of the local shops like the clothing store Parts Unknown. Or find used and even rare books at Barber’s Bookstore.
Check Out Cowtown’s Stockyards
Photo via @andrea_nicole010
Step back in time and visit the Fort Worth Stockyards for an authentic look into the American West. Take a gander at some Wild-West artifacts at the Stockyards Museum. Explore Bonnie and Clyde’s hideout and even drink at a traditional Texas saloon at the historic Stockyards Hotel! Channel your inner cowboy and attend a rodeo at the weekly Stockyards Championship Rodeo. If you want to see the work of modern Texas ranches, be sure to check out the Fort Worth Herd, the world’s only twice-daily cattle drive through the Stockyards National Historic District.
Visit “The Great American Speedway”
Photo via @team_penske
Be prepared to rev your engines in Fort Worth! Texas Motor Speedway is the only place in the Lone Star State where fans can catch NASCAR and INDYCAR races on the same track. Nicknamed “The Great American Speedway,” Texas Motor Speedway hosts major races like NASCAR All-Star Race and XPEL 375. The track also features the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, XFINITY Series, Camping World Truck Series, and Verizon IndyCar Series, so racing fans will never be short on things to do in Fort Worth!
Get Your Art & History Fix in Fort Worth
Photo via @branhalen
Cowtown isn’t only home to honky-tonks and historic stockyards—there’s a lot of fine art in the city, too! View artwork and architecture from all over the world at the Kimbell Art Museum. If you’re looking for free things to do in Fort Worth, take in hundreds of authentic American pieces at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. Check out the Monnig Meteorite Gallery, a large gallery dedicated to space rocks and displays more than 3,000 real samples for free. Take in the works of talented artists from around the world at The Modern. Honor the pioneer women of the American West and visit the exhibits at the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame & Museum. Or check out stunning Classical art depicting the West in a chic urban setting at the Sid Richardson Museum.
Visit The Fort Worth Opera
Photo provided by the Fort Worth Opera
As one of the oldest still-performing opera companies in both Texas and the U.S., the Fort Worth Opera has become internationally known for its innovative and modern performances like A Night of Black Excellence. Not only has it brought big names to Fort Worth—including Placido Domingo and Lily Pons—but the Fort Worth Opera also hosts a festival in the spring with multiple operas performed each weekend during April and May at the Bass Performance Hall.
Fort Worth Is Family-Friendly
Photo via @fortworthzoo
Take the family to see animals like giraffes, apes, and elephants roaming through fostered habitats at the Fort Worth Zoo. Learn about the lush, wild vegetation of Fort Worth, take a yoga class, or stroll through beautifully designed gardens at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. Check out some of the world’s most famous pre-modern aircrafts or attend events like the annual Warbird Ride Day at the Vintage Flying Museum. Learn about some of the first creatures to roam the planet in the Dino Lab, see how modern-day science is used in the Current Science Studio, or just let the kids play in the new play area in the Children’s Museum of the Fort Worth Science and History Museum.
Watch Movies in a Real Drive-in Theater
Photo provided by Coyote Drive-In Theater
In 2013, Coyote Drive-In Theater had a mission to bring back the drive-in movie experience younger generations haven’t been able to enjoy. Located on Panther Island in Downtown Fort Worth, Coyote Drive-In Theater & Canteen is the perfect place to go with friends, family, or pets. Catch a flick in the comfort of your car while enjoying a cold drink and hot popcorn. With new movies being played all the time, Coyote Drive-In is a unique experience in Fort Worth that you won’t want to miss!
Enjoy Amazing Fort Worth Dining
Photo via @losvaquerosstockyards
Try mouth-watering Hibachi combinations like the Chicken and Shrimp or go for sushi in Fort Worth at Ashim’s Hibachi Grill. Grab authentic Tex-Mex right in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards like Susana’s Special Dinner, Avocado Enchiladas, and a Tamale Dinner from Los Vaqueros Restaurant. Head over to Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que for some authentic Texas BBQ Brisket, Chicken, or Pork served by the half or full pound. Try the Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Rack, Seafood Ragout, or vegetarian dishes like the Toasted Ravioli at Lili’s Bistro on Magnolia.
Cowtown Has the Best Burgers & Steaks
Photo via @beardedfoodbandit
Fort Worth isn’t known as Cowtown for nothing! Considering the city’s role as an important stop for cattle drovers in the U.S., it’s no wonder that beef is king in Fort Worth. Sip on The Magic Touch IPA while savoring Kimchi Fries and the mouth-watering Smoked Gouda Burger at Pouring Glory. Have a night of elegant dining and eat a Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Filet at GRACE. For the best burgers, try a classic Chili Cheeseburger at Kincaid’s or Rodeo Goat‘s Hatch Me If You Can. If you’re seeking the best steak in Fort Worth, you can’t go wrong with any of the choices at the fine-dining spot Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, legendary stalwart of Fort Worth cuisine Reata, or amazing farm-to-Table restaurant, Bonnell’s.
Enjoy DFW Craft Beer
Photo via @pantherislandbrewing
Fort Worth knows a thing or two about brewing great drinks! Take a day with friends and follow the Fort Worth Ale Trail to visit ten craft breweries in the area. Grab homemade garlic knots and an 1849 Irish Red Ale at Fort Brewery. Stop by a one-of-a-kind spot to sample craft brews like the Tailgater American Cream Ale, indulge with eats from local food trucks, and listen to live music at Panther Island Brewing. Don’t miss Martin House Brewing, named after the acrobatic and native Texan bird, the Purple Martin. The unique and appropriately named Salty Lady Gose is one of their fantastic offerings, and is perfect for helping beat that Texas heat!
Dance at “The World’s Largest Honky Tonk”
Photo via @nikkixphillips
You can’t fully experience Fort Worth without experiencing the honky-tonk at Billy Bob’s! Located within the historic Stockyards, Billy Bob’s proudly calls itself the world’s largest honky-tonk. The 127,000-square foot dance hall is outfitted with more than 30 bar stations and can hold up to 6,000 people. Grab a partner and take line-dancing lessons. Attend a live concert and see music legends like Willie Nelson or Trace Adkins. Cheer on your favorite professional rider as they try not to get bucked off one of the 47,500 bulls during live indoor bull riding every Friday and Saturday night at Billy Bob’s.
Hit Up the Nightlife on West 7th Street
Photo provided by West 7th
You don’t have to travel to Dallas for thrilling nightlife! Linking downtown and the Fort Worth Cultural District, modern West 7th Street is infused with Fort Worth tradition and offers residents dozens of restaurants and bars. Stroll up and down the shops and entertainment of Crocket Row and enjoy seasonal events like the Monsters & Murals Halloween Chalk Art Festival. Catch dinner and a movie at West 7th Cinema. Go for a whiskey tasting or tour the working distillery at Blackland Distillery. Or hang out at a local TCU student and young professional favorite, Landmark, to play some vintage arcade games and enjoy a few craft drinks.
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