Fort Worth’s neighborhoods conjure up too many stereotypes to count. You’ve got hipster areas, preppy places, neighborhoods where college kids thrive, and of course, ghettos.
It seems as if there’s a neighborhood for everyone in Fort Worth.
And while the city consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in Texas thanks in part to tons of entertainment and jobs, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine in Fort Worth. Some neighborhoods aren’t as safe as others.
So the question arises, which Fort Worth neighborhoods are the most dangerous and which are the safest?
Today, we’ll use Saturday Night Science to determine which Fort Worth hoods need a little tender loving care – the sore thumbs of the Fort Worth area if you will. Realistically, you can’t expect all the neighborhoods to be amazing, although Tcu-West Cliff ranks way above the rest.
We examined 16 of Fort Worth’s neighborhoods to find out the most dangerous places to live. These places don’t quite measure up to Fort Worth’s reputation.
Table Of Contents: Top 10 | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the worst neighborhood to live in Fort Worth for 2024? According to the most recent census data, South East looks to be the worst neighborhood in Fort Worth.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Fort Worth that need a pick-me-up. And remember, don’t blame the messenger.
For more Texas reading, check out:
The 10 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods In Fort Worth For 2024
/10
Population: 59,810
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,042
Property Crime Per 100k: 4,386
Median Home Value: $53,724 (worst)
Median Income: $31,691 (worst)
More on South East: Data
As you’d expect, this section lies southeast of downtown. No surprises there. It also borders Lake Arlington…maybe a little surprise if you were expecting an unbroken urban landscape. Don’t get too excited, though…you won’t find any sprawling waterfront estates. Rather, you’re more likely to discover trailers down by the water.
A substantial poverty problem drags this community down. The unemployment rate isn’t horrible at 5.9%. However, wages remain low, with a median income sitting at $31,691. At least the cost of living stays affordable. This starts with housing prices, with a median home value of $53,724.
/10
Population: 38,197
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 707
Property Crime Per 100k: 4,581
Median Home Value: $73,740 (3rd worst)
Median Income: $40,654 (4th worst)
More on Northeast: Data
I-35 provides the main traffic artery for Northeast Fort Worth. You’ll also find major thruways on E. Belknap St. and the blandly named Airport Freeway. However, despite these major highways, the neighborhood isn’t just a web of asphalt. You also get touches of nature in places like Riverside Park, which sits along the West Fork Trinity River.
Still, life in the area isn’t a preverbal walk in the park. Serious financial concerns dog most of the residents. The jobless rate hovers at a respectable levels, but the median income only reaches $40,654.
/10
Population: 44,752
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 816
Property Crime Per 100k: 3,968
Median Home Value: $68,951 (2nd worst)
Median Income: $37,189 (2nd worst)
More on Northside: Data
A neighborhood with a spot called Rodeo Park should be a wild ride. And, to add to the excitement, the Texas Cowboy Hall Of Fame sits just outside the area. These features complement a host of restaurants and stores…basically all the amenities a resident could want.
There’s a problem though. The local economy is a tough bronco to break. The unemployment rate stands at a respectable 4.2%. However, it’s tough to find a job in the area that pays more than $40,000. In fact, the local median income reaches just $37,189.
/10
Population: 56,682
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,121
Property Crime Per 100k: 5,353
Median Home Value: $83,117 (4th worst)
Median Income: $37,624 (3rd worst)
More on Southside: Data
Yes, Southside ranks as the number 4 worst part of Fort Worth for 2024. But, even so, it really has a lot going for it. You’ve got plenty of amenities, including Glenwood Park for daytime walks and a hip area of bars and restaurants just over the I-35 in a neighborhood conveniently known as “Near Southside.” The area also has a clear community spirit, as evidenced by the Lenora Butler Rolla Museum.
Yet, it’s hard to ignore the hardships the area faces as well. As you’ve probably guessed based on the rest of this list, economic troubles hamper the neighborhood’s progress. For example, Southside supports a median income of just $37,624.
/10
Population: 40,126
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 644
Property Crime Per 100k: 2,992
Median Home Value: $85,861 (5th worst)
Median Income: $44,497 (5th worst)
More on Sycamore: Data
Scroll around these worst-neighborhood lists and you’ll find some areas of overwhelming poverty and urban blight. Things can get pretty scary. Sycamore isn’t one of those seemingly hopeless locations. Still, a sluggish economy lands it at number 4 on this list of worst areas of Fort Worth in 2024.
Sycamore has an elevated unemployment rate of 5.4%. Finding work isn’t a cinch, but the jobless figure is far from devastating. Similarly, the median income sits at the unremarkable level of $44,497. Not great, of course, but not the depths of destitution either.
Meanwhile, neighborhood real estate values remain within the means of most locals. The median home value stands at $85,861.
/10
Population: 95,072
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 845
Property Crime Per 100k: 3,559
Median Home Value: $108,565 (6th worst)
Median Income: $49,038 (6th worst)
More on Eastside: Data
/10
Population: 21,078
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 541
Property Crime Per 100k: 2,501
Median Home Value: $121,521 (7th worst)
Median Income: $64,738 (10th worst)
More on Far South: Data
/10
Population: 43,278
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 928
Property Crime Per 100k: 4,097
Median Home Value: $123,969 (8th worst)
Median Income: $49,146 (7th worst)
More on Western Hills-Ridglea: Data
/10
Population: 28,215
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 492
Property Crime Per 100k: 3,047
Median Home Value: $139,380 (11th worst)
Median Income: $69,798 (11th worst)
More on Far West: Data
/10
Population: 33,891
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 334
Property Crime Per 100k: 1,713
Median Home Value: $135,505 (9th worst)
Median Income: $74,826 (13th worst)
More on Far Northwest: Data
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous Fort Worth neighborhoods in 2024
To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what places have the least amount of those things. We plugged the following criteria into Saturday Night Science to get the worst neighborhoods in Fort Worth:
- High crime (Estimated)
- High unemployment (Less jobs)
- Low median income (Less pay)
- Low population density (No things to do)
- Low home values (No one’s willing to pay to live here)
Then, we ranked each neighborhood in Fort Worth, Texas for each of these criteria from worst to best.
Next, we averaged the individual rankings for each criterion into a “Worst Score.”
The neighborhood with the lowest “Worst Score” ranks as the most dangerous neighborhood of Fort Worth.
The article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2024. This report is our time ranking the worst neighborhoods to live in Fort Worth.
Skip to the end to see the list of all 16 neighborhoods ranked from worst to best.
Summary: The Worst Neighborhoods Around Fort Worth
Well, there you have it — the worst of the neighborhoods in Fort Worth with South East landing at the bottom of the pack.
The worst neighborhoods in Fort Worth are South East, Northeast, Northside, Southside, Sycamore, Eastside, Far South, Western Hills-Ridglea, Far West, and Far Northwest.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Fort Worth aren’t all bad. Tcu-West Cliff takes the cake as the best place to live in Fort Worth.
The best neighborhoods in Fort Worth are Tcu-West Cliff, Arlington Heights, Wedgwood, Downtown, and Far North.
We ranked the neighborhoods from worst to best in the chart below.
For more Texas reading, check out:
Most Dangerous Neighborhoods To Live In Fort Worth For 2024?
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South East | 59,810 | $53,724 | $31,691 |
| 2 | Northeast | 38,197 | $73,740 | $40,654 |
| 3 | Northside | 44,752 | $68,951 | $37,189 |
| 4 | Southside | 56,682 | $83,117 | $37,624 |
| 5 | Sycamore | 40,126 | $85,861 | $44,497 |
| 6 | Eastside | 95,072 | $108,565 | $49,038 |
| 7 | Far South | 21,078 | $121,521 | $64,738 |
| 8 | Western Hills-Ridglea | 43,278 | $123,969 | $49,146 |
| 9 | Far West | 28,215 | $139,380 | $69,798 |
| 10 | Far Northwest | 33,891 | $135,505 | $74,826 |
| 11 | Far Southwest | 4,270 | $138,967 | $53,901 |
| 12 | Far North | 141,442 | $156,796 | $83,972 |
| 13 | Downtown | 4,481 | $146,567 | $63,894 |
| 14 | Wedgwood | 18,051 | $170,300 | $74,003 |
| 15 | Arlington Heights | 4,461 | $279,317 | $84,535 |
| 16 | Tcu-West Cliff | 36,649 | $258,142 | $81,358 |