Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville 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
Vacaville
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $408k less ($152,500 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $1237/mo less ($904 vs $2,141)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $48,531/yr
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,531 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Fort Wayne
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$408k less
$152,500 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$48,531
$106,764 vs $58,233/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
5% lower
293.2 vs 307.5 per 100k
Vacaville
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 10 and Vacaville 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $560,400 median home), income ($58,233 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Vacaville, CA are about 1,951 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.