Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $239k less ($152,500 vs $391,500)
Rent averages $185/mo less ($904 vs $1,089)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Provo
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.4%)
Provo, UT
Pros
33% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Fort Wayne
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$239k less
$152,500 vs $391,500
Provo
Violent Crime
33% lower
206.6 vs 307.5 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.8% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,089 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 54 ✓ 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 (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 12 and Provo 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 Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $391,500 median home), income ($58,233 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Provo, UT are about 1,385 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.