Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Gresham, OR
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 16 of 21 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Gresham
Oregon
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
113,525
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $259k less ($152,500 vs $411,700)
Rent averages $548/mo less ($904 vs $1,452)
25% less violent crime than Gresham
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Gresham by $11,204/yr
Gresham, OR
Pros
Households earn $11,204 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Fort Wayne
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
25% lower
307.5 vs 410.2 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$259k less
$152,500 vs $411,700
Gresham
Median Income
$11,204
$69,437 vs $58,233/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Gresham, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $411,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,452⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $69,437 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 23.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 46.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 113,525 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 55.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 14.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Gresham's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 16 of 21 categories. Fort Wayne wins 16 and Gresham wins 5. 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 Gresham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $411,700 median home), income ($58,233 vs $69,437), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Gresham, OR are about 1,883 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.