Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 18 of 22 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
148,470
Fort Wayne
Indiana
18
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 33°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Fort Wayne
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.8%)
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Rent averages $465/mo less ($904 vs $1,369)
Homes cost $75k less ($152,500 vs $227,200)
22% less violent crime than Bridgeport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.8%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Income
$3,793
$58,233 vs $54,440/yr
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
22% lower
307.5 vs 392.9 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$75k less
$152,500 vs $227,200
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 | $152,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $58,233 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 6.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 18 of 22 categories. Bridgeport wins 4 and Fort Wayne wins 18. 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 Bridgeport to Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $152,500 median home), income ($54,440 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Fort Wayne, IN are about 621 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.