Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Port St. Lucie, FL
🏆 Port St. Lucie 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
Port St. Lucie
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
210,520
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $140k less ($152,500 vs $292,900)
Rent averages $780/mo less ($904 vs $1,684)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Port St. Lucie
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Port St. Lucie by $16,807/yr
Port St. Lucie, FL
Pros
62% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Households earn $16,807 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (116.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 33°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,684/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fort Wayne
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 101.7 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$140k less
$152,500 vs $292,900
Port St. Lucie
Median Income
$16,807
$75,040 vs $58,233/yr
Port St. Lucie
Violent Crime
62% lower
116.7 vs 307.5 per 100k
Port St. Lucie
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Port St. Lucie, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $292,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,684⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $75,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 33 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 26.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | ST. LUCIE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 73.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 210,520 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 43.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 21.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Port St. Lucie's 101.7 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Port St. Lucie leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 10 and Port St. Lucie 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 Port St. Lucie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $292,900 median home), income ($58,233 vs $75,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Port St. Lucie, FL are about 992 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.