Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 12 of 22 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $199k less ($152,500 vs $351,400)
73% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Rent averages $488/mo less ($904 vs $1,392)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashville-Davidson
Cons
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $13,095/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.6%)
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Households earn $13,095 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
73% lower
307.5 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$199k less
$152,500 vs $351,400
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$13,095
$71,328 vs $58,233/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Nashville-Davidson
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $351,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $71,328 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 15.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 296⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 45.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 4.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 | 684,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 12 of 22 categories. Fort Wayne wins 12 and Nashville-Davidson wins 10. 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 Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $351,400 median home), income ($58,233 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 351 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.