Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $240k less ($152,500 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $386/mo less ($904 vs $1,290)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Orem
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orem by $19,335/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.4%)
Orem, UT
Pros
43% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Households earn $19,335 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Fort Wayne
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$240k less
$152,500 vs $392,900
Orem
Median Income
$19,335
$77,568 vs $58,233/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
43% lower
174.5 vs 307.5 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.8% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,290 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 37.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 59.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 10 and Orem wins 13. 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 Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $392,900 median home), income ($58,233 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Orem, UT are about 1,387 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.