Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley 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
San Tan Valley
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($152,500 vs $304,000)
Rent averages $825/mo less ($904 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 104°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than San Tan Valley
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $30,233/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.5%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Households earn $30,233 more per year on average
23% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 33°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Fort Wayne
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$152k less
$152,500 vs $304,000
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$30,233
$88,466 vs $58,233/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
23% lower
235.7 vs 307.5 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.8% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
20.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 10 and San Tan Valley 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $304,000 median home), income ($58,233 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 1,547 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.