Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 12 of 22 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
Kirkland
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $785k less ($152,500 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1346/mo less ($904 vs $2,250)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $77,375/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.7%)
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $77,375 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Fort Wayne
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$785k less
$152,500 vs $937,700
Fort Wayne
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 84.1°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Median Income
$77,375
$135,608 vs $58,233/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
80% lower
60.6 vs 307.5 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Kirkland, 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 | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 37.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 62.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 12 of 22 categories. Fort Wayne wins 10 and Kirkland wins 12. 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 Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $937,700 median home), income ($58,233 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Kirkland, WA are about 1,867 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.