Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Lancaster
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $216k less ($152,500 vs $368,800)
Rent averages $672/mo less ($904 vs $1,576)
63% less violent crime than Lancaster
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Lancaster by $13,134/yr
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Households earn $13,134 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Fort Wayne
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
63% lower
307.5 vs 834.7 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$216k less
$152,500 vs $368,800
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Median Income
$13,134
$71,367 vs $58,233/yr
Lancaster
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Lancaster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $368,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $71,367 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 8.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 171,465 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 57.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 15 and Lancaster wins 8. 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $368,800 median home), income ($58,233 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Lancaster, CA are about 1,843 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.