Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Evansville, IN
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories
Evansville
Indiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Fort Wayne
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$58,233 ✓ Higher
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.
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $31k less ($121,100 vs $152,500)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 33°F
Cons
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Wayne by $8,380/yr
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
75% less violent crime than Evansville
Households earn $8,380 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Evansville
Median Home Value
$31k less
$121,100 vs $152,500
Evansville
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 84.1°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 89.8 on the COL index
Fort Wayne
Median Income
$8,380
$58,233 vs $49,853/yr
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
75% lower
307.5 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Evansville, IN | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 90.0 |
| Median Home Value | $121,100 ✓ Lower | $152,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,853 | $58,233 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 6.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 317⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.2% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,906 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 14.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Evansville's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories. Evansville wins 10 and Fort Wayne wins 13. 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 Evansville to Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($121,100 vs $152,500 median home), income ($49,853 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Evansville, IN and Fort Wayne, IN are about 249 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.