Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 12 of 22 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
Sunnyvale
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $1528k less ($152,500 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $2086/mo less ($904 vs $2,990)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $116,273/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $116,273 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Fort Wayne
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$1528k less
$152,500 vs $1,680,700
Fort Wayne
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 84.1°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$116,273
$174,506 vs $58,233/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
20% lower
244.5 vs 307.5 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 12 of 22 categories. Fort Wayne wins 10 and Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($58,233 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Sunnyvale, CA are about 1,975 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.