Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Kansas City, KS
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 16 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Kansas City
Kansas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
71% less violent crime than Kansas City
Rent averages $140/mo less ($904 vs $1,044)
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $19k less ($133,800 vs $152,500)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 33°F
Cons
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Fort Wayne
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Income
$2,113
$58,233 vs $56,120/yr
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
71% lower
307.5 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$19k less
$133,800 vs $152,500
Kansas City
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Kansas City, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 | $133,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,044 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 ✓ Higher | $56,120 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 276⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 172⚠ 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 | 15.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 80.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Kansas City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 38.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 11.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 155,438 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 59.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 16 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 16 and Kansas City wins 7. 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 Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $133,800 median home), income ($58,233 vs $56,120), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Kansas City, KS are about 525 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.