Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Warren, MI
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Warren
Michigan
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$61,633 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
138,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
43% less violent crime than Warren
Rent averages $235/mo less ($904 vs $1,139)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Homes cost $17k less ($152,500 vs $169,300)
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Warren by $3,400/yr
Warren, MI
Pros
Households earn $3,400 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (541.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 5.8%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Fort Wayne
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
43% lower
307.5 vs 541.8 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$17k less
$152,500 vs $169,300
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.4% unemployment
Warren
Median Income
$3,400
$61,633 vs $58,233/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Warren, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $169,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,139 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $61,633 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 74 ✓ 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 | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 86.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Warren Consolidated Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F ✓ Warmer | 32.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 29.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 27.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 138,588 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 21.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Warren's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 15 and Warren wins 8. 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 Warren or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $169,300 median home), income ($58,233 vs $61,633), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Warren, MI are about 146 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.