Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 13 of 22 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $172k less ($152,500 vs $324,800)
Rent averages $710/mo less ($904 vs $1,614)
47% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
22% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $5,811/yr
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,811 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Fort Wayne
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
47% lower
307.5 vs 575.8 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$172k less
$152,500 vs $324,800
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$5,811
$64,044 vs $58,233/yr
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 13 of 22 categories. Fort Wayne wins 13 and West Palm Beach wins 9. 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $324,800 median home), income ($58,233 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,031 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.