Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 Cary leads 15 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
Fort Wayne
Indiana
8
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.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $67,084 more per year on average
77% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $325k less ($152,500 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $634/mo less ($904 vs $1,538)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Cary
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $67,084/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$67,084
$125,317 vs $58,233/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
77% lower
71.0 vs 307.5 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.8% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 84.1°F
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$325k less
$152,500 vs $477,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $152,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $58,233 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 28.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 62.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 24.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 15 of 23 categories. Cary wins 15 and Fort Wayne wins 8. 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 Cary to Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $152,500 median home), income ($125,317 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Fort Wayne, IN are about 501 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.