Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Indio, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Indio
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,436 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
89,616
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $221k less ($152,500 vs $373,200)
Rent averages $440/mo less ($904 vs $1,344)
9% less violent crime than Indio
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Indio
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 106°F
Cons
Median income trails Indio by $10,203/yr
Indio, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 33°F
Households earn $10,203 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $373,200
Higher rents — median is $1,344/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Fort Wayne
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
9% lower
307.5 vs 336.2 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$221k less
$152,500 vs $373,200
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.3% unemployment
Indio
Median Income
$10,203
$68,436 vs $58,233/yr
Indio
Summer Heat
21.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Indio, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $373,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,344⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $68,436 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 77.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Desert Sands Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 2.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 89,616 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% | 69.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 19.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Indio's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 13 and Indio 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 Indio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $373,200 median home), income ($58,233 vs $68,436), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Indio, CA are about 1,770 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.