Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $696k less ($152,500 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $1244/mo less ($904 vs $2,148)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $51,102/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.7%)
Orange, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,102 more per year on average
26% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 33°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Fort Wayne
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$696k less
$152,500 vs $848,200
Orange
Median Income
$51,102
$109,335 vs $58,233/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
26% lower
226.1 vs 307.5 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 58.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 12 and Orange 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $848,200 median home), income ($58,233 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Orange, CA are about 1,852 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.