Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 Carmel leads 15 of 22 categories
Carmel
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Fort Wayne
Indiana
7
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.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $74,626 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $273k less ($152,500 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $595/mo less ($904 vs $1,499)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Carmel
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $74,626/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Median Income
$74,626
$132,859 vs $58,233/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
79% lower
66.0 vs 307.5 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$273k less
$152,500 vs $425,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $152,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $58,233 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 28.1% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 62.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 24.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 14.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carmel leads 15 of 22 categories. Carmel wins 15 and Fort Wayne wins 7. 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 Carmel to Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $152,500 median home), income ($132,859 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Fort Wayne, IN are about 94 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.