Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Detroit, MI
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 15 of 22 categories
Detroit
Michigan
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$37,761
Violent Crime Index
469⚠ High
Population
636,787 ✓ Larger
Fort Wayne
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Detroit, MI
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($66,700 vs $152,500)
Cons
Median income trails Fort Wayne by $20,472/yr
Violent crime (1781.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4305.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (14.7% vs 5.8%)
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 8.9 pts lower (5.8%)
83% less violent crime than Detroit
Households earn $20,472 more per year on average
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $85/mo less ($904 vs $989)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Detroit
Median Home Value
$86k less
$66,700 vs $152,500
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Income
$20,472
$58,233 vs $37,761/yr
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
83% lower
307.5 vs 1781.3 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
8.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 14.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Detroit, MI | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $66,700 ✓ Lower | $152,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $989 | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,761 | $58,233 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 14.7%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 469⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 205⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.9% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Detroit Public Schools Community District | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.9" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 636,787 ✓ Larger | 264,514 |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Detroit'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 22 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 15 of 22 categories. Detroit wins 7 and Fort Wayne wins 15. 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 Detroit to Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($66,700 vs $152,500 median home), income ($37,761 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Detroit, MI and Fort Wayne, IN are about 138 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.