Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories
Berkeley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385
Fort Wayne
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
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.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,483 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Fort Wayne
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $1128k less ($152,500 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $1163/mo less ($904 vs $2,067)
52% less violent crime than Berkeley
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $46,483/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$46,483
$104,716 vs $58,233/yr
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
52% lower
307.5 vs 638.8 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$1128k less
$152,500 vs $1,280,300
Fort Wayne
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 84.1°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $152,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $58,233 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 28.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 14.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories. Berkeley wins 10 and Fort Wayne wins 13. 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 Berkeley to Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $152,500 median home), income ($104,716 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Fort Wayne, IN are about 1,979 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.