Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Las Vegas, NV
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514
Las Vegas
Nevada
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,356 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $213k less ($152,500 vs $365,300)
Rent averages $452/mo less ($904 vs $1,356)
28% less violent crime than Las Vegas
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.8%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Las Vegas
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Las Vegas by $8,123/yr
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 33°F
Households earn $8,123 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $365,300
Higher rents — median is $1,356/mo
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fort Wayne
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
28% lower
307.5 vs 429.8 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$213k less
$152,500 vs $365,300
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.4% unemployment
Las Vegas
Median Income
$8,123
$66,356 vs $58,233/yr
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
19.7°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $365,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,356⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $66,356 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ 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 | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 6.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 | 644,835 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Las Vegas's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 14 and Las Vegas wins 9. 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 Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $365,300 median home), income ($58,233 vs $66,356), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Las Vegas, NV are about 1,651 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.