Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
McKinney
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $248k less ($152,500 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $836/mo less ($904 vs $1,740)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $55,053/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.7%)
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $55,053 more per year on average
62% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Fort Wayne
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$248k less
$152,500 vs $400,400
McKinney
Median Income
$55,053
$113,286 vs $58,233/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
62% lower
117.3 vs 307.5 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 196,160 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 8 and McKinney wins 15. 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 McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $400,400 median home), income ($58,233 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and McKinney, TX are about 835 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.