Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Garden Grove, CA
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 13 of 22 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Garden Grove
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
171,637
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $550k less ($152,500 vs $702,600)
Rent averages $983/mo less ($904 vs $1,887)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Garden Grove
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Garden Grove by $27,906/yr
Garden Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,906 more per year on average
10% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $702,600
Higher rents — median is $1,887/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Fort Wayne
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$550k less
$152,500 vs $702,600
Garden Grove
Median Income
$27,906
$86,139 vs $58,233/yr
Garden Grove
Violent Crime
10% lower
276.6 vs 307.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Garden Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $702,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,887⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $86,139 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 23.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 75.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Garden Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 171,637 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 54.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Garden Grove's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 13 of 22 categories. Fort Wayne wins 13 and Garden Grove wins 9. 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 Garden Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $702,600 median home), income ($58,233 vs $86,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Garden Grove, CA are about 1,858 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.