Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $162k less ($152,500 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $472/mo less ($904 vs $1,376)
17% less violent crime than Suffolk
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $29,525/yr
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $29,525 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Fort Wayne
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
17% lower
307.5 vs 371.0 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$162k less
$152,500 vs $314,400
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Median Income
$29,525
$87,758 vs $58,233/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 75 ✓ 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 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 11 and Suffolk wins 12. 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $314,400 median home), income ($58,233 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Suffolk, VA are about 549 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.