Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Las Cruces
New Mexico
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High
Population
111,273
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
57% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Homes cost $45k less ($152,500 vs $197,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.8%)
Households earn $7,220 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (720.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Wayne by $7,220/yr
Property crime (4873.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 93.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Income
$7,220
$58,233 vs $51,013/yr
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
57% lower
307.5 vs 720.0 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$45k less
$152,500 vs $197,200
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.8 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $197,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $907 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 36.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 111,273 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 13 and Las Cruces wins 10. 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 Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $197,200 median home), income ($58,233 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Las Cruces, NM are about 1,338 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.