Residential comparison · 13 facts
Fort Wayne, IN vs Indianapolis, IN
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Fort Wayne needs about $90,500 in Indianapolis to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Indianapolis, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $79,500 in Fort Wayne.
A few differences
- Fort Wayne is lower on property tax rate (0.83% vs 1.05%).
- Fort Wayne is higher on median household income ($61,422 vs $59,000).
- Fort Wayne is lower on unemployment rate (3.6% vs 3.8%).
Fort Wayne vs Indianapolis · facet by facet
| Facet | Fort Wayne, IN | Indianapolis, IN |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $188,900 | $250,000 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,039/mo | $1,400/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.83% | 1.05% |
| State & local income tax | 4.53% | 5.07% |
| Sales tax | 7% | 7% |
| Cost of living index | 80 | 90 |
| Groceries index | 95 | 95 |
| Utilities | $165/mo | $170/mo |
| Median household income | $61,422 | $59,000 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.8% |
| Crime index | 45/100 | 57/100 |
| School rating | 5.8/10 | 5.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 190 days | 186 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Fort Wayne, IN · Indianapolis, IN
Questions & answers
- Is Fort Wayne cheaper than Indianapolis?
- Fort Wayne has the lower day-to-day cost index (80 vs 90 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Indianapolis equals $85,000 in Fort Wayne?
- A household earning $85,000 in Fort Wayne needs about $90,500 in Indianapolis to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Indianapolis lifestyle costs about $79,500 in Fort Wayne.