Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford 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
Stamford
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $432k less ($152,500 vs $584,700)
Rent averages $1225/mo less ($904 vs $2,129)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Stamford
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Stamford by $42,485/yr
Stamford, CT
Pros
Households earn $42,485 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Fort Wayne
Longer commutes — 27.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$432k less
$152,500 vs $584,700
Stamford
Median Income
$42,485
$100,718 vs $58,233/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
49% lower
157.5 vs 307.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 38.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 135,413 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 10 and Stamford 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $584,700 median home), income ($58,233 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Stamford, CT are about 604 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.