Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $485k less ($152,500 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1449/mo less ($904 vs $2,353)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $89,994/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.4%)
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $89,994 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Fort Wayne
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$485k less
$152,500 vs $637,400
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$89,994
$148,227 vs $58,233/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
55% lower
138.1 vs 307.5 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.8% unemployment
Highlands Ranch
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 8 and Highlands Ranch wins 15. 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 Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $637,400 median home), income ($58,233 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 1,048 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.