City comparison
Frisco is safer than Fort Wayne. Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 104 in Fort Wayne, and its violent crime index is 31 versus 84, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $2,014 in Frisco.
The income gap between Fort Wayne and Frisco is significant: $61,422 median household versus $150,212. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $999 in Fort Wayne and $2,014 in Frisco.
Frisco is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Fort Wayne makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Frisco is the stronger move.
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
Fort Wayne and Frisco are 846 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $2,014 a month in Frisco, up $1,015 a month (102%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $150,212 in Frisco, up $88,790 (145%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 43 in Frisco, down 61 points (59%).
The move
Frisco and Fort Wayne are 846 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,014 a month in Frisco to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $1,015 a month (50%).
Median household income goes from $150,212 in Frisco to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $88,790 (59%).
The crime index goes from 43 in Frisco to 104 in Fort Wayne, up 61 points (142%).
Fort Wayne, IN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Frisco, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Wayne and Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
50% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 50% cheaper than Frisco
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Frisco
$2,014/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $2,014 in Frisco, so Fort Wayne is 50% cheaper. That's roughly $1,015/month back in your pocket ($12,180/year). Over five years that's $60,900 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 Frisco, 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 Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
145% higher
Frisco's median income is 145% higher than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Frisco
Winner$150,212
Median household income is $150,212 in Frisco versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 145% higher in Frisco (about $88,790 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, Frisco 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
59% lower crime
Frisco's crime index is 59% lower than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne
104 (100 = avg)
Frisco
Winner43 (100 = avg)
Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 104 in Fort Wayne (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% lower in Frisco. 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, Frisco is the easier city. Fort Wayne can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
29% more comfortable
Frisco weather is 29% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne
56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Frisco
Winner64°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 97/100
Fort Wayne averages about 56°F (65°F highs); Frisco averages about 64°F (72°F highs). Fort Wayne averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Frisco averages around 64°F. Frisco scores 29% 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 50% 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.
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 145% higher ($150,212), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 64°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Frisco is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 59% lower than Fort Wayne (43 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
Rent is the clearest fork: Fort Wayne at $999/month versus $2,014 in Frisco ($1,015 apart). Frisco median income is $150,212 against $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Fort Wayne rent at $999/month is still below Frisco's $2,014, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 59/100 in Fort Wayne and 86/100 in Frisco.
If housing cost drives your move, Fort Wayne is the stronger match ($999/month rent against $2,014). If an employer or family tie already points to Frisco, treat $2,014/month rent and $150,212 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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