Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 17 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
66% less violent crime than Springfield
Homes cost $46k less ($152,500 vs $198,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.8%)
Households earn $10,556 more per year on average
Rent averages $143/mo less ($904 vs $1,047)
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Springfield, MA
Pros
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Wayne by $10,556/yr
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Income
$10,556
$58,233 vs $47,677/yr
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
66% lower
307.5 vs 891.4 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$46k less
$152,500 vs $198,500
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $198,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,047 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 34.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 84.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 17 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 17 and Springfield wins 6. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $198,500 median home), income ($58,233 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Springfield, MA are about 654 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.