Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 16 of 22 categories
Albany
New York
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Fort Wayne
Indiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.8%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
62% less violent crime than Albany
Homes cost $61k less ($152,500 vs $213,400)
Rent averages $226/mo less ($904 vs $1,130)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Albany
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Income
$3,497
$58,233 vs $54,736/yr
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
62% lower
307.5 vs 816.9 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$61k less
$152,500 vs $213,400
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 | $152,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $58,233 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 28.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 33.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 16 of 22 categories. Albany wins 6 and Fort Wayne wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $152,500 median home), income ($54,736 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Fort Wayne, IN are about 593 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.