Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Kansas City, MO
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Fort Wayne
Indiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514
Kansas City
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$65,256 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
80% less violent crime than Kansas City
Homes cost $56k less ($152,500 vs $208,900)
Rent averages $227/mo less ($904 vs $1,131)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Kansas City
Cons
Median income trails Kansas City by $7,023/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.8%)
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $7,023 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 33°F
Cons
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4676.1/100k) 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
Violent Crime
80% lower
307.5 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$56k less
$152,500 vs $208,900
Kansas City
Median Income
$7,023
$65,256 vs $58,233/yr
Kansas City
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
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, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $208,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,131 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $65,256 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 12.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 333⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 407⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 223⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 13.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 37.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | KANSAS CITY 33 |
| 🌤 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 | 505,958 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 54.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.9% |
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 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Fort Wayne wins 11 and Kansas City wins 11. 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 $208,900 median home), income ($58,233 vs $65,256), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Kansas City, MO are about 515 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.