Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 12 of 23 categories
Chico
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Fort Wayne
Indiana
12
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.
Chico, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 33°F
Households earn $7,699 more per year on average
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $275k less ($152,500 vs $427,600)
56% less violent crime than Chico
Rent averages $456/mo less ($904 vs $1,360)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Chico by $7,699/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Median Income
$7,699
$65,932 vs $58,233/yr
Chico
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 84.1°F
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
56% lower
307.5 vs 699.2 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$275k less
$152,500 vs $427,600
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $152,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 ✓ Higher | $58,233 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 28.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 12 of 23 categories. Chico wins 11 and Fort Wayne wins 12. 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 Chico to Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $152,500 median home), income ($65,932 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Fort Wayne, IN are about 1,917 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.