Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($152,500 vs $243,300)
44% less violent crime than Yakima
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.8%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Yakima
Rent averages $110/mo less ($904 vs $1,014)
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Yakima, WA
Pros
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 33°F
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fort Wayne
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Income
$2,499
$58,233 vs $55,734/yr
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
44% lower
307.5 vs 544.3 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$91k less
$152,500 vs $243,300
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,014 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 39.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 20.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 15 and Yakima 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $243,300 median home), income ($58,233 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Yakima, WA are about 1,789 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.