Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 15 of 21 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $153k less ($152,500 vs $305,600)
Rent averages $408/mo less ($904 vs $1,312)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Worcester by $4,778/yr
Worcester, MA
Pros
95% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $4,778 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Fort Wayne
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.8%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$153k less
$152,500 vs $305,600
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Fort Wayne
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 84.1°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$4,778
$63,011 vs $58,233/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
95% lower
16.5 vs 307.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 15 of 21 categories. Fort Wayne wins 15 and Worcester wins 6. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $305,600 median home), income ($58,233 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Worcester, MA are about 692 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.