Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Huntington Beach leads 13 of 23 categories
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
Huntington Beach
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $824k less ($152,500 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $1414/mo less ($904 vs $2,318)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Commutes run 9 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 Huntington Beach by $56,514/yr
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,514 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/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
$824k less
$152,500 vs $976,800
Fort Wayne
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 84.1°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$56,514
$114,747 vs $58,233/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
33% lower
207.3 vs 307.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Huntington Beach, 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 | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 93.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 197,481 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntington Beach leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 10 and Huntington Beach wins 13. 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $976,800 median home), income ($58,233 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Huntington Beach, CA are about 1,862 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.