Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 19 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
79% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $8,500 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Rent averages $78/mo less ($904 vs $982)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Milwaukee
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Wayne by $8,500/yr
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Fort Wayne
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 95.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Income
$8,500
$58,233 vs $49,733/yr
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
79% lower
307.5 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 95.5 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $157,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $982 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 9.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 19 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 19 and Milwaukee wins 4. 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 Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $157,800 median home), income ($58,233 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Milwaukee, WI are about 199 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.