Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Fort Worth, TX
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514
Fort Worth
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $98k less ($152,500 vs $250,300)
Rent averages $409/mo less ($904 vs $1,313)
33% less violent crime than Fort Worth
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
Cons
Median income trails Fort Worth by $14,493/yr
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Households earn $14,493 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 33°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Fort Wayne
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
33% lower
307.5 vs 458.4 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$98k less
$152,500 vs $250,300
Fort Worth
Median Income
$14,493
$72,726 vs $58,233/yr
Fort Worth
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Fort Worth, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $250,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,313 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $72,726 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 10.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | FORT WORTH ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 2.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 | 924,663 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 56.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Fort Worth's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 13 and Fort Worth 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 Wayne to Fort Worth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $250,300 median home), income ($58,233 vs $72,726), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Fort Worth, TX are about 884 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.