Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria 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
Peoria
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $231k less ($152,500 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $734/mo less ($904 vs $1,638)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 105°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Peoria
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $28,526/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.9%)
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Households earn $28,526 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fort Wayne
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$231k less
$152,500 vs $383,600
Peoria
Median Income
$28,526
$86,759 vs $58,233/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
17% lower
254.7 vs 307.5 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.8% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
20.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $383,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,638⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 34.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 191,292 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 8 and Peoria 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $383,600 median home), income ($58,233 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Peoria, AZ are about 1,566 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.