Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 17 of 23 categories
East Los Angeles
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High
Population
117,222
Fort Wayne
Indiana
17
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.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 33°F
Households earn $5,886 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Fort Wayne
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $430k less ($152,500 vs $582,400)
Rent averages $465/mo less ($904 vs $1,369)
45% less violent crime than East Los Angeles
26% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails East Los Angeles by $5,886/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
East Los Angeles
Median Income
$5,886
$64,119 vs $58,233/yr
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
45% lower
307.5 vs 558.4 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$430k less
$152,500 vs $582,400
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $152,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 ✓ Higher | $58,233 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 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 | 124⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 17 of 23 categories. East Los Angeles wins 6 and Fort Wayne wins 17. 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 East Los Angeles to Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $152,500 median home), income ($64,119 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Fort Wayne, IN are about 1,861 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.