Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Livonia, MI
🏆 Livonia leads 13 of 23 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
Livonia
Michigan
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($152,500 vs $249,000)
Rent averages $331/mo less ($904 vs $1,235)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Livonia
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Livonia by $34,225/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Livonia, MI
Pros
Households earn $34,225 more per year on average
26% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Fort Wayne
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$97k less
$152,500 vs $249,000
Livonia
Median Income
$34,225
$92,458 vs $58,233/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
26% lower
228.1 vs 307.5 per 100k
Livonia
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Livonia, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $249,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,235 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $92,458 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 13.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Livonia Public Schools School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F ✓ Warmer | 30.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 33.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 36.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 94,928 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 45.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Livonia's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Livonia leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 10 and Livonia wins 13. 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 Livonia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $249,000 median home), income ($58,233 vs $92,458), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Livonia, MI are about 128 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.