Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 17 of 22 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
New Haven
Connecticut
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Rent averages $498/mo less ($904 vs $1,402)
Homes cost $84k less ($152,500 vs $236,500)
43% less violent crime than New Haven
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.8%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than New Haven
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
New Haven, CT
Pros
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 33°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Income
$3,928
$58,233 vs $54,305/yr
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
43% lower
307.5 vs 534.8 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$84k less
$152,500 vs $236,500
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.6 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $236,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 141⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 38.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 85.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 17 of 22 categories. Fort Wayne wins 17 and New Haven wins 5. 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 New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $236,500 median home), income ($58,233 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and New Haven, CT are about 635 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.