Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
South Fulton
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,488 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
107,865
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Rent averages $557/mo less ($904 vs $1,461)
Homes cost $90k less ($152,500 vs $242,200)
35% less violent crime than South Fulton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than South Fulton
Cons
Median income trails South Fulton by $19,255/yr
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Households earn $19,255 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,461/mo
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fort Wayne
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
35% lower
307.5 vs 470.5 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$90k less
$152,500 vs $242,200
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.8% unemployment
South Fulton
Median Income
$19,255
$77,488 vs $58,233/yr
South Fulton
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $242,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,461⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $77,488 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 107,865 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 13 and South Fulton wins 10. 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 Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $242,200 median home), income ($58,233 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and South Fulton, GA are about 516 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.