Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 12 of 22 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($152,500 vs $307,700)
Rent averages $271/mo less ($904 vs $1,175)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $8,250/yr
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
21% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,250 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fort Wayne
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$155k less
$152,500 vs $307,700
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$8,250
$66,483 vs $58,233/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
21% lower
242.1 vs 307.5 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,175 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 37.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 12 of 22 categories. Fort Wayne wins 12 and Spokane Valley 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $307,700 median home), income ($58,233 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,635 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.