Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($152,500 vs $311,100)
Rent averages $718/mo less ($904 vs $1,622)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $52,890/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.2%)
Pearland, TX
Pros
Households earn $52,890 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Fort Wayne
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$159k less
$152,500 vs $311,100
Pearland
Median Income
$52,890
$111,123 vs $58,233/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
69% lower
95.9 vs 307.5 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $311,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 10.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 8 and Pearland wins 15. 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $311,100 median home), income ($58,233 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Pearland, TX are about 980 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.