Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Fort Wayne
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $37,337 more per year on average
44% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 33°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Fort Wayne
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $445k less ($152,500 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $1266/mo less ($904 vs $2,170)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $37,337/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$37,337
$95,570 vs $58,233/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
44% lower
171.0 vs 307.5 per 100k
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 84.1°F
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$445k less
$152,500 vs $597,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $152,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $58,233 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 28.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 62.6% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 14.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 14 and Fort Wayne wins 9. 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 Boca Raton to Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $152,500 median home), income ($95,570 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Fort Wayne, IN are about 1,057 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.