Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 17 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
North Charleston
South Carolina
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
Median Household Income
$58,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($152,500 vs $243,300)
62% less violent crime than North Charleston
Rent averages $384/mo less ($904 vs $1,288)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than North Charleston
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.3%)
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 33°F
Cons
Violent crime (810.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3955.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Fort Wayne
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
62% lower
307.5 vs 810.5 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$91k less
$152,500 vs $243,300
North Charleston
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
North Charleston
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.2 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,288 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $58,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 115,755 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 17 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 17 and North Charleston wins 6. 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 North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $243,300 median home), income ($58,233 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and North Charleston, SC are about 630 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.