October 14, 2026
Fort Worth is the 10th largest city in the United States, with 1,028,117 residents as of July 1, 2025, and it runs on its own economy, not Dallas’s. If you are relocating to Fort Worth, three things decide how the move goes: where you work and commute, how you finance the purchase, and whether you can buy before you arrive.
This guide covers the three buyers we work with most. Military families on orders to NAS Fort Worth JRB. Employees moving for a Fort Worth employer. Out-of-state buyers relocating on their own. Each has different money rules and a different clock.
We are the Kirk McDonald Group. Kirk was born and raised in Fort Worth, and our team has closed more than 2,100 transactions and $800 million in volume over more than 20 years. We coordinate relocations from the first call to the closing table, including for buyers who are still living in another state. If you want the full buying process first, start with our complete guide to buying a home in Fort Worth.
Is Fort Worth a good place to live?
Yes, for most people relocating for work, family, or lower ownership costs. Fort Worth has no state income tax, a deep employer base, and neighborhoods that range from established streets near TCU to acreage west of town. The trade-offs are real, and we would rather you hear them from us.
What works in Fort Worth’s favor:
- No state income tax in Texas.
- A large, steady job base in defense, rail, aviation, and healthcare.
- A median sale price of $329,999 over the last six months (Resideline, October 3, 2026).
- A real city with its own downtown, its own Cultural District, and its own identity.
What to plan for:
- Property taxes carry the load that income tax carries in other states.
- School boundaries do not follow city or neighborhood lines. Two houses on one street can sit in different districts.
- Summers are long and hot. Check the age of the HVAC system before you make an offer.
- Commutes are manageable by Texas standards, but I-35W and I-30 slow down at rush hour.
What does it cost to live in Fort Worth?
Housing is the biggest line item, and property tax is the one that surprises people from other states. Texas has no state income tax, so local governments fund themselves through property taxes. Your bill combines the City of Fort Worth (adopted fiscal year 2026 rate: $0.67 per $100 of value), Tarrant County, your school district, and sometimes a special district such as a MUD or PID.
Total rates vary by address. In our experience they run roughly 1.8% to 2.2% of assessed value. On a $330,000 home, that is about $6,600 a year, or $550 a month. Ask for the seller’s actual tax bill before you write an offer.
| Measure | Fort Worth figure |
|---|---|
| Median sale price, last six months | $329,999 (5,106 closings) |
| Median price per square foot, May to September 2026 | $175 to $178 |
| Median days from listing to under contract | 30 |
| Median days from contract to closing | 22 |
Source: Resideline, October 3, 2026
Once you own the home and live in it, file for the residence homestead exemption with the Tarrant Appraisal District. The school district exemption is $140,000 of value, and the filing deadline is April 30. Your closing date affects which tax year the exemption starts, so ask your title company or the appraisal district. If you are weighing the timing of a purchase, our guide on whether to buy a home now or wait walks through the market.
Moving to Fort Worth with the military
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth sits on the west side of the city and employs about 10,500 people, according to the latest regional employer data. Military buyers have benefits civilians do not. They also have a calendar civilians do not.
Where military families look near NAS Fort Worth JRB
The base is in ZIP code 76127. Buyers on orders usually start with Benbrook, Azle, Saginaw, White Settlement, and the neighborhoods west and northwest of downtown. Then they widen the search by price and school zoning.
Pick two or three addresses and drive the route at the hour you will actually commute. A maps app averages traffic. It does not show you the line at the gate. Check your housing allowance for the base ZIP code on the Defense Travel Management Office BAH calculator before you set a budget.
Using a VA loan in Fort Worth
A VA loan lets eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and some Guard and Reserve members buy with no down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance. For a first-time use with nothing down, the VA funding fee is 2.15% of the loan amount. You can roll it into the loan. It is waived if you receive VA disability compensation, among other exemptions.
Three things to do early:
- Request your Certificate of Eligibility before you start touring.
- Tell your agent you are using a VA loan so the offer is written for it.
- Expect the VA appraisal to flag repair items such as roof, paint, and HVAC. That protects you, and it can be negotiated with the seller.
In today’s balanced market, a clean VA offer at a fair price gets taken seriously.
Texas programs for service members
The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation runs Homes for Texas Heroes. It offers up to 5% of the loan amount toward your down payment and closing costs for veterans and active military, along with teachers, first responders, and other public servants. Help comes as a grant, a forgivable second lien, or a repayable second lien through a participating lender.
Texas also runs its own Veterans Land Board home loan program. Ask a lender to compare it against a VA loan on your numbers. Disabled veterans may also qualify for homestead property tax exemptions, including a full exemption for veterans rated 100% disabled. Confirm yours with the appraisal district.
Timing a purchase around orders
Orders rarely line up with a house hunt. If you have a few days on the ground, book showings in a block and skip the open houses. If you cannot visit, use the out-of-state steps below.
Plan your exit before you buy. If your next move is within a few years, favor neighborhoods with deep buyer demand, and ask us to run rent-versus-buy numbers. Active-duty members are not required to register or title their vehicles in Texas, which removes one item from the first-month list.
Corporate relocation to Fort Worth
Fort Worth’s largest employers drive a steady relocation market. American Airlines, BNSF Railway, and Bell Textron are headquartered here. These are the biggest employers in the latest regional data, from the North Central Texas Council of Governments (2023):
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Lockheed Martin | 18,700 |
| Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base | 10,500 |
| BNSF Railway | 4,900 |
| Alcon Laboratories | 4,500 |
| GM Financial headquarters | 4,371 |
Source: Tarrant County, Labor Force and Major Employers (NCTCOG data, 2023)
Let your commute pick the neighborhood. Lockheed Martin and the base sit on the west side. Alcon is on the south side. BNSF’s headquarters is in north Fort Worth. DFW Airport is roughly 25 to 30 minutes from most of the city, which matters if you travel for work.
Is your relocation package taxable?
For most employees, yes. Under federal law, the moving expense deduction is permanently suspended for non-military workers, and employer-paid moving reimbursements count as taxable wages reported on your W-2. The exceptions are members of the Armed Forces and certain intelligence community employees who move because of a required change in assignment.
Ask HR for three answers in writing before you accept:
- Is the package a lump sum or a managed move?
- Does the employer cover the tax on it, often called a gross-up?
- What do you owe back if you leave within a set period?
Run the numbers with a tax advisor. We are not tax advisors, and your situation decides the answer.
Making the house-hunting trip count
Many packages include a paid trip, temporary housing, or home sale help. Get pre-approved and know your rate lock options before you fly. Then you can write an offer the day you find the right house instead of the week after.
Buying a Fort Worth home from out of state
You do not need to be in Fort Worth to buy here. You do need a plan for the parts that normally happen in person. These are the steps in order.
- Get pre-approved by a lender licensed in Texas. A pre-approval letter makes your offer credible, and the lender can tell you how long a rate lock lasts.
- Get local eyes on the house. A video walkthrough from your agent shows what listing photos skip: street noise, the back fence, the age of the roof, the neighbors’ yards. If you can visit once before you offer, do it.
- Write the offer on the Texas contract. Earnest money is customarily about 1% of the price, and you pay a separate option fee, often $100 to $500, for the right to terminate during the option period.
- Hire your own inspector in the first two or three days of the option period. Read the report on a call with your agent, then negotiate repairs before the period ends.
- Confirm wire instructions by phone with your title company, using a number you already trust. Wire fraud targets out-of-state buyers.
- Close remotely. Most Texas title companies can arrange a mail-away closing or a mobile notary. Ask for closing instructions in the first week so documents can ship early.
- File your homestead exemption once you own and occupy the home.
If you have to sell your current home first, Texas has a standard contract addendum for the sale of other property. A contingent offer ranks below a clean one, so talk to us about timing your sale and purchase so both close within days of each other.
Two deadlines start the day you arrive. Register your vehicle in Texas within 30 days. Get a Texas driver license within 90 days. Both come from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
Where to live in Fort Worth
Most relocating buyers focus on the house and underweight the commute. We push the other way. You can renovate a kitchen. You cannot shorten a drive.
Choose by priority, not by ZIP code alone. School boundaries change street by street, so confirm the zoned campus with the district and check its rating on TXschools.gov before you make an offer.
| If your priority is | Start with |
|---|---|
| Strong school districts | Aledo and Keller. See our list of homes in the best school districts. |
| A short drive to the base or Lockheed Martin | Benbrook, Azle, Saginaw |
| New construction and master-planned communities | Northlake and Pecan Square. Read our guide to new construction homes in Fort Worth. |
| Established streets near the Cultural District and TCU | The 76109 ZIP code |
| Luxury and estates | Westover Hills and Tanglewood. See our Fort Worth luxury real estate guide. |
| Acreage and horse property | Weatherford. See Weatherford ranch, acreage, and equestrian properties. |
| More house for the money south of the city | Burleson |
First purchase? Our first time home buyer guide for Fort Worth covers cash needed and down payment help.
Schools and commutes
School district lines in Fort Worth do not follow city or neighborhood lines. Two homes on the same street can sit in different districts, and that affects both your kids’ schools and your resale value. Aledo ISD, Carroll ISD in Southlake, and Keller ISD are consistently among the strongest in the region. Fort Worth ISD covers the urban core, and quality varies a lot from campus to campus. Check the boundary for any address before you make an offer, and ask us to confirm it with the district.
Commutes are easier than in Dallas. I-30, I-20, and I-35W are the main arteries, and rush hour is real but nowhere near the Dallas North Tollway or I-635. Pick your neighborhood with your drive in mind.
Fort Worth or Dallas?
Both work, and your commute usually decides it. Fort Worth suits buyers who want established neighborhoods, west-side acreage, and a city that feels smaller than it is. Dallas fits buyers whose work is in the north Dallas corridor. If your job is in Fort Worth, Alliance, or at DFW Airport, buy on this side of the Metroplex.
Do not pick a city by its reputation. Pick the commute you can live with for years.
How we help relocating buyers
We offer virtual consultations for buyers still in another city, neighborhood tours for buyers in town for a few days, and relocation coordination from the first showing to the closing. We will be straight with you about what makes sense. That includes telling you when a house is not worth the price, and when renting for six months first is the better call.
Contact us to start your Fort Worth relocation. Tell us where you are coming from, what you need, and when. We will take it from there.
Frequently asked questions about relocating to Fort Worth
Is Fort Worth a good place to live?
Yes, for most people relocating for work or family. Fort Worth is the 10th largest city in the U.S., has no state income tax, and has a strong job base in defense, rail, aviation, and healthcare. The trade-offs are property taxes, school boundaries that change by street, and hot summers.
Does Texas have a state income tax?
No. Texas has no state income tax. Local property taxes fund schools and city services instead, and they run higher than in many states. Compare your total tax bill, not just the income tax line, when you weigh a move.
Can I buy a house in Fort Worth without seeing it in person?
Yes. Many relocating buyers use video walkthroughs, a local agent, and their own inspector during the option period. Wire instructions should always be confirmed by phone, and most Texas title companies can close by mail-away or mobile notary. We recommend a visit before you offer whenever you can manage one.
Can I use a VA loan to buy in Fort Worth?
Yes. Eligible veterans and service members can buy with no down payment. The first-use funding fee with nothing down is 2.15% of the loan, and it is waived for veterans who receive VA disability compensation. Get your Certificate of Eligibility early and tell your agent so the offer is written for a VA loan.
Is my employer’s relocation payment taxable?
For most employees, yes. Employer-paid moving reimbursements are taxable wages, and the moving expense deduction is suspended for non-military workers. Active-duty military members and certain intelligence community employees are exceptions. Confirm the details with a tax advisor.
How soon do I need to register my car and get a Texas driver license?
Register your vehicle within 30 days of moving to Texas. Get a Texas driver license within 90 days. Active-duty military members are not required to register or title their vehicles in Texas.
Is it better to live in Dallas or Fort Worth?
It depends on where you work. Fort Worth fits buyers who want established neighborhoods, acreage on the west side, and a smaller feel. Dallas fits buyers with jobs in the north Dallas corridor. Choose the side of the Metroplex that gives you a commute you can live with.
Sources
- City of Fort Worth, Population (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025)
- Resideline, Fort Worth market data, October 3, 2026
- City of Fort Worth, FY2026 Budget
- Tarrant County, Labor Force and Major Employers (NCTCOG, 2023)
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA funding fee and closing costs
- Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation, Homes for Texas Heroes
- Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, New to Texas
- Foster, One Big Beautiful Bill Act Part 8: Worker Moving Expenses
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Property Tax Exemptions
- Defense Travel Management Office, BAH Calculator