Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 18 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Kent
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $326k less ($152,500 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $838/mo less ($904 vs $1,742)
37% less violent crime than Kent
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $28,733/yr
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $28,733 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Fort Wayne
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
37% lower
307.5 vs 489.7 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$326k less
$152,500 vs $478,400
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.6% unemployment
Fort Wayne
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 84.1°F vs 78.3°F
Kent
Median Income
$28,733
$86,966 vs $58,233/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $478,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,742⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $86,966 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 10.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 135,169 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 18 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 18 and Kent wins 5. 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 Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $478,400 median home), income ($58,233 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Kent, WA are about 1,867 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.