Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 17 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Lynn
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $290k less ($152,500 vs $442,800)
Rent averages $607/mo less ($904 vs $1,511)
46% less violent crime than Lynn
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Lynn
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Lynn by $11,813/yr
Lynn, MA
Pros
Households earn $11,813 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $442,800
Higher rents — median is $1,511/mo
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Fort Wayne
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
46% lower
307.5 vs 574.6 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$290k less
$152,500 vs $442,800
Fort Wayne
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 84.1°F vs 80.3°F
Lynn
Median Income
$11,813
$70,046 vs $58,233/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $442,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,511⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $70,046 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 36.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 39.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 100,653 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 48.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 17 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 17 and Lynn wins 6. 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 Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $442,800 median home), income ($58,233 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Lynn, MA are about 736 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.