City comparison
No. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,440 in Chicago.
Safety is where Chicago and Fort Wayne split most clearly. Fort Wayne scores 63 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,440 in Chicago and $999 in Fort Wayne.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and Chicago 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
Chicago and Fort Wayne are 140 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $441 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $16,480 (21%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 63 points (38%).
The move
Fort Wayne and Chicago are 140 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,440 a month in Chicago, up $441 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $77,902 in Chicago, up $16,480 (27%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 167 in Chicago, up 63 points (61%).
Chicago, IL
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 Chicago and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 31% cheaper than Chicago
Chicago
$1,440/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,440 in Chicago, so Fort Wayne is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $441/month back in your pocket ($5,292/year). Over five years that's $26,460 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 Chicago, 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
27% higher
Chicago's median income is 27% higher than Fort Wayne
Chicago
Winner$77,902
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 27% higher in Chicago (about $16,480 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, Chicago 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
38% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 38% lower than Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% 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. Chicago can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
8% more comfortable
Chicago weather is 8% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Chicago
Winner53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Chicago averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). Chicago averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Fort Wayne averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Chicago scores 8% 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 27% higher ($77,902), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 53°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 31% 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 38% lower than Chicago (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Fort Wayne leads on safety (59/100 vs 44/100 in Chicago). Typical rent is $999 in Fort Wayne and $1,440 in Chicago; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Chicago still pays more locally ($77,902 median income vs $61,422), which can offset the lease if your field pays Chicago rates.
Median income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne.
Fort Wayne is ahead on safety (59/100 vs 44/100); Chicago is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,440/month rent plus $77,902 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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