Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Fort Wayne
Indiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Norman
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$62,849 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $72k less ($152,500 vs $224,900)
Rent averages $100/mo less ($904 vs $1,004)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Norman by $4,616/yr
Norman, OK
Pros
15% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 33°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Households earn $4,616 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$72k less
$152,500 vs $224,900
Norman
Median Income
$4,616
$62,849 vs $58,233/yr
Norman
Violent Crime
15% lower
260.2 vs 307.5 per 100k
Norman
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $224,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,004 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $62,849 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 37.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 4.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 127,701 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Fort Wayne wins 11 and Norman wins 11. 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $224,900 median home), income ($58,233 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Norman, OK are about 775 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.