Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $95k less ($152,500 vs $247,900)
Rent averages $161/mo less ($904 vs $1,065)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cons
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $7,854/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
15% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $7,854 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Fort Wayne
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$95k less
$152,500 vs $247,900
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$7,854
$66,087 vs $58,233/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
15% lower
262.0 vs 307.5 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.1 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $247,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,065 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $66,087 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 9.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 46.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 14.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 54.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 9 and Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 14. 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $247,900 median home), income ($58,233 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 214 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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