Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Lubbock, TX
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Lubbock
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9
Median Household Income
$58,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
63% less violent crime than Lubbock
Rent averages $189/mo less ($904 vs $1,093)
Homes cost $29k less ($152,500 vs $181,600)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.6%)
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 33°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 90.9 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
63% lower
307.5 vs 821.0 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$29k less
$152,500 vs $181,600
Lubbock
Median Income
$501
$58,734 vs $58,233/yr
Lubbock
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Lubbock
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Lubbock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 90.9 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $181,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,093 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $58,734 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 216⚠ 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) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 34.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | LUBBOCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 20.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 7.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 258,190 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 30.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 51.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Lubbock's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 14 and Lubbock 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 Lubbock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $181,600 median home), income ($58,233 vs $58,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Lubbock, TX are about 1,054 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.