City comparison
No. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
Safety is where Durham and Fort Wayne split most clearly. Fort Wayne scores 89 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,508 in Durham and $999 in Fort Wayne.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and Durham 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
Durham and Fort Wayne are 489 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $509 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $20,197 (25%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 89 points (46%).
The move
Fort Wayne and Durham are 489 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $509 a month (51%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $81,619 in Durham, up $20,197 (33%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 193 in Durham, up 89 points (86%).
Durham, NC
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 Durham and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
34% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 34% cheaper than Durham
Durham
$1,508/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,508 in Durham, so Fort Wayne is 34% cheaper. That's roughly $509/month back in your pocket ($6,108/year). Over five years that's $30,540 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 Durham, 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
33% higher
Durham's median income is 33% higher than Fort Wayne
Durham
Winner$81,619
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 33% higher in Durham (about $20,197 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, Durham 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
46% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 46% lower than Durham
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% 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. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
36% more comfortable
Durham weather is 36% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Durham
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). Durham averages around 59°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. Durham scores 36% 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 33% higher ($81,619), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°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 34% 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 46% lower than Durham (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 $1,508 in Durham. Median income reads $61,422 in Fort Wayne and $81,619 in Durham, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Fort Wayne rent at $999/month is still below Durham's $1,508, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $81,619 in Durham versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne.
Fort Wayne clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Durham deserves a serious look only when your $81,619 income offer in Durham outweighs saving $509/month in Fort Wayne.
Common questions
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Next steps
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