What are the schools like in Fort Wayne, IN?

Fort Wayne is served primarily by Fort Wayne Community Schools. The district operates 33 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, and 7 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.4:1.

What is the median household income in Fort Wayne?

The median household income in Fort Wayne, IN is $58,233 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.8%.

What is the weather like in Fort Wayne, IN?

Fort Wayne has an average high temperature of 32.6°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 33.6 inches.

Fort Wayne, IN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Fort Wayne, IN affordable or expensive?

Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Fort Wayne is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $152,500 and the median rent is $904 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Fort Wayne, IN?

Fort Wayne has a violent crime rate of 307.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2223.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Fort Wayne, IN a Good Place to Live?

Fort Wayne is a large city of 264,514 in Indiana, with a median household income of $58,233 and a 5.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Fort Wayne stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Fort Wayne is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Fort Wayne city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.0

Fort Wayne's overall cost of living index is 90.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Fort Wayne costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Fort Wayne, IN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$152,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$904	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$58,233	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Fort Wayne's violent crime rate is 307.5 per 100,000 residents — 19% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

307.5 /100k

Property Crime

2223.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Fort Wayne is served primarily by Fort Wayne Community Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Fort Wayne, IN	National Avg
School District	Fort Wayne Community Schools	—
Elementary Schools	33	—
Middle Schools	10	—
High Schools	7	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	28.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Fort Wayne sees average highs of 32.6°F in January and 84.1°F in July, with 38.7 inches of annual precipitation and 33.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Fort Wayne, IN
Average High — January	32.6°F
Average High — July	84.1°F
Annual Precipitation	38.7"
Annual Snowfall	33.6"

Demographics

Metric	Fort Wayne, IN	National Avg
Population	264,514	—
Median Age	35.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	68.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	15.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.5%	18.9%
Asian	5.6%	6.3%
Under 18	24.3%	22.2%
65 and over	14.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

New Haven, IN 7 mi Arcola, IN 8 mi Hessen Cassel, IN 9 mi Huntertown, IN 9 mi Lake Everett, IN 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN is covered by 16 ZIP codes:

46804 46825 46835 46815 46809 46808 46818 46806 46805 46816 46803 46802 46807 46814 46845 46819

Fort Wayne vs Other Cities

Fort Wayne, IN vs New Haven, IN Fort Wayne, IN vs Arcola, IN Fort Wayne, IN vs Hessen Cassel, IN Fort Wayne, IN vs Huntertown, IN Fort Wayne, IN vs Lake Everett, IN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fort Wayne, IN affordable or expensive?

Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Fort Wayne roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $152,500 and median rent is $904/month.

What is the crime rate in Fort Wayne, IN?

Fort Wayne's violent crime rate is 307.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2223.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Fort Wayne?

Public schools in Fort Wayne are operated by Fort Wayne Community Schools. The district has 33 elementary, 10 middle, and 7 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 28.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Fort Wayne, IN a good place to live?

Fort Wayne, IN has a population of 264,514, a median household income of $58,233, and an unemployment rate of 5.8%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Fort Wayne?

Fort Wayne averages 32.6°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.7 inches with about 33.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Fort Wayne?

Fort Wayne, IN is covered by 16 ZIP codes: 46804, 46825, 46835, 46815, 46809, 46808, 46818, 46806, 46805, 46816, 46803, 46802, 46807, 46814, 46845, 46819.

What is the population of Fort Wayne?

The population of Fort Wayne, Indiana is 264,514 with a median age of 35.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Fort Wayne?

Key numbers for living in Fort Wayne: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $152,500, median household income $58,233, crime index 91 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fort Wayne side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.