Fort Wayne, Indiana
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Fort Wayne.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne planning snapshot: population 273,203, housing index 64 (among the more affordable large markets in this catalog), median home $169,700, median rent $959, and income near $60,293. Expect 82°F summer highs, 21°F winter lows, and about 20-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 361.6 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 64U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $169,700U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $959U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $60,293U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 3.3%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 20 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 361.6per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 82°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Fort Wayne compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 273,203City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $60,293Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year23% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 64ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year36% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $169,700City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year44% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $959City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year29% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 3.3%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 20 min20% below U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 3229% below U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 361.6annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)38% below U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 2760.9annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)11% below U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 82°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals5.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 21°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals13.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 39.5 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals20% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 230As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals14% below U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Fort Wayne grew 7.5% from 254,161 in 2010 to 273,203 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Fort Wayne expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Compared with the U.S. average, Fort Wayne runs 36 points lower on MapsToIt's ACS housing index. Use that single number as a quick filter, then dig into home and rent cells for the budget you actually need.
- Housing cost index 64 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $169,700 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $959 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Fort Wayne?
Budget first around $959/month rent or $169,700 purchase prices — both are MapsToIt ACS medians, not listing ask averages. National ACS medians are $1,348 rent and $303,400 home value for context.
- Median home value $169,700
- Median rent $959/month
- Median household income $60,293
What is the job market like in Fort Wayne?
Labor-market context for Fort Wayne: unemployment 3.3% and median income $60,293. Those are BLS LAUS (county) and ACS figures — industry mix still matters more than the headline rate alone.
- Unemployment 3.3% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $60,293
How long is the typical commute in Fort Wayne?
Plan on roughly 20 minutes each way in Fort Wayne. Walk Score estimates around 32 shape how car-dependent daily errands feel. Compare that with the 25-minute catalog average before you lock a neighborhood.
- 20 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 32/100
Is Fort Wayne safer than similar U.S. cities?
Fort Wayne's FBI-derived violent rate (~361.6/100k) sits below the average of mapped MapsToIt cities. Use the figure as a screening signal, then verify the blocks you would actually live on.
- Violent 361.6 per 100k
- Property 2760.9 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne's climate profile: 82°F summer peaks, 21°F winter mornings, 39.5" annual rainfall, and 230 sunny days — from the nearest NOAA normals station.
- Summer high 82°F
- Winter low 21°F
- 39.5 in rain · 230 sunny days
Midwest industrial corridors and flat farmland still set the cost baseline. Expect summer highs near 82°F and winter lows around 21°F. Average one-way commute time is about 20 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 32/100. Labor-market readings near 3.3% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates around 361.6 per 100k are moderate for a large U.S. city, with meaningful variation by neighborhood.
Relocators eyeing Fort Wayne, Indiana will find roughly 273,203 residents within city limits. With median income around $60,293 and a cost index of 64, the market reads among the more affordable large markets in this catalog on housing costs. Entry home prices around $169,700 still look attainable compared with coastal metros.
Fort Wayne is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Fort Wayne with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Fort Wayne city, 1600000US1825000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Allen County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00014827 FT WAYNE INTL AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10