City comparison
Fort Wayne is safer than Arlington. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 132 in Arlington, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,470 in Arlington.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Arlington and Fort Wayne. Arlington averages 73°F while Fort Wayne averages 56°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,470 versus $999.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and Arlington pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Fort Wayne at $999 average has pockets that run $799 and others at $1,399: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Arlington and Fort Wayne are 878 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $471 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $13,749 (18%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 28 points (21%).
The move
Fort Wayne and Arlington are 878 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,470 a month in Arlington, up $471 a month (47%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $75,171 in Arlington, up $13,749 (22%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 132 in Arlington, up 28 points (27%).
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Fort Wayne, IN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Arlington and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 32% cheaper than Arlington
Arlington
$1,470/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,470 in Arlington, so Fort Wayne is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $471/month back in your pocket ($5,652/year). Over five years that's $28,260 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Arlington, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Fort Wayne is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
22% higher
Arlington's median income is 22% higher than Fort Wayne
Arlington
Winner$75,171
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $75,171 in Arlington versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Arlington (about $13,749 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Arlington is the stronger labor market on paper. Fort Wayne can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
21% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 21% lower than Arlington
Arlington
132 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 132 in Arlington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% lower in Fort Wayne. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Fort Wayne is the easier city. Arlington can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Arlington weather is 33% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Arlington
Winner73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Wayne
56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Arlington averages about 73°F (80°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 56°F (65°F highs). Arlington sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Fort Wayne averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Arlington scores 33% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Fort Wayne if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 22% higher ($75,171), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 73°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Fort Wayne is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 32% cheaper here at about $999 a month. Choose Fort Wayne if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fort Wayne is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than Arlington (104 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $999/month in Fort Wayne versus $1,470 in Arlington. Median income reads $61,422 in Fort Wayne and $75,171 in Arlington, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Fort Wayne rent at $999/month is still below Arlington's $1,470, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 52/100 in Arlington and 59/100 in Fort Wayne.
Fort Wayne clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Arlington deserves a serious look only when your $75,171 income offer in Arlington outweighs saving $471/month in Fort Wayne.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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