Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673
Fort Wayne
Indiana
10
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.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Households earn $17,143 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Fort Wayne
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($152,500 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $723/mo less ($904 vs $1,627)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $17,143/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$17,143
$75,376 vs $58,233/yr
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 84.1°F
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$265k less
$152,500 vs $417,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High | $152,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 ✓ Higher | $58,233 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 81 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 28.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 14.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Fort Lauderdale wins 10 and Fort Wayne wins 10. 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 Fort Lauderdale to Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $152,500 median home), income ($75,376 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Fort Wayne, IN are about 1,072 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.