Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Oklahoma City, OK
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$64,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
55% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
Homes cost $44k less ($152,500 vs $196,700)
Rent averages $108/mo less ($904 vs $1,012)
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
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.5%)
Median income trails Oklahoma City by $6,018/yr
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 33°F
Households earn $6,018 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
55% lower
307.5 vs 676.0 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$44k less
$152,500 vs $196,700
Oklahoma City
Median Income
$6,018
$64,251 vs $58,233/yr
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.8% unemployment
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Oklahoma City, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $196,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,012 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $64,251 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 8.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | OKLAHOMA CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 6.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 | 681,088 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 59.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Oklahoma City's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 13 and Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $196,700 median home), income ($58,233 vs $64,251), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Oklahoma City, OK are about 774 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.