Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
68% less violent crime than South Bend
Households earn $9,177 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $39k less ($113,800 vs $152,500)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Wayne by $9,177/yr
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Income
$9,177
$58,233 vs $49,056/yr
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
68% lower
307.5 vs 965.0 per 100k
South Bend
Median Home Value
$39k less
$113,800 vs $152,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $935 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 28.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 15 and South Bend wins 8. 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 South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $113,800 median home), income ($58,233 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and South Bend, IN are about 71 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.