Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Nashua, NH
🏆 Nashua leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Nashua
New Hampshire
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
90,943
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $192k less ($152,500 vs $344,900)
Rent averages $693/mo less ($904 vs $1,597)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Nashua by $30,533/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.1%)
Nashua, NH
Pros
Households earn $30,533 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.1%)
More college-educated — 40.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $344,900
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Fort Wayne
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$192k less
$152,500 vs $344,900
Nashua
Median Income
$30,533
$88,766 vs $58,233/yr
Nashua
Violent Crime
48% lower
160.5 vs 307.5 per 100k
Nashua
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.1% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Nashua, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 106.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $344,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $88,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 12.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 42 ✓ 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) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 40.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Nashua School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 46.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 52.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 90,943 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Nashua's 106.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nashua leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 9 and Nashua wins 14. 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 Nashua or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $344,900 median home), income ($58,233 vs $88,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Nashua, NH are about 710 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.