City comparison
Yes. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 134 in Huntsville, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 127, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,171 in Huntsville.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Fort Wayne and Huntsville. Fort Wayne averages 51°F while Huntsville averages 63°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $999 versus $1,171.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and Huntsville 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 crime gap is citywide. Fort Wayne has rougher pockets and Huntsville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Fort Wayne and Huntsville are 449 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, up $172 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $74,714 in Huntsville, up $13,292 (22%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 134 in Huntsville, up 30 points (29%).
The move
Huntsville and Fort Wayne are 449 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $172 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $13,292 (18%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 30 points (22%).
Fort Wayne, IN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Huntsville, AL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Wayne and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 15% cheaper than Huntsville
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Huntsville
$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,171 in Huntsville, so Fort Wayne is 15% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,064, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Fort Wayne still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Huntsville.
Planning to buy in Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
22% higher
Huntsville's median income is 22% higher than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Huntsville
Winner$74,714
Median household income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Huntsville (about $13,292 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, Huntsville 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
22% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 22% lower than Huntsville
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
134 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 134 in Huntsville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% 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. Huntsville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
54% more comfortable
Huntsville weather is 54% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Huntsville
Winner63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). Fort Wayne averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Huntsville averages around 63°F. Huntsville scores 54% 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
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 15% 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 22% lower than Huntsville (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.
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 ($74,714), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 63°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
On weather alone, Huntsville is the warmer market (63°F) and Fort Wayne the cooler (51°F). Typical leases run $1,171 and $999; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Fort Wayne rent at $999/month is still below Huntsville's $1,171, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne.
Huntsville wins on climate (63°F vs 51°F); Fort Wayne is the better fit if $999 rent and $61,422 pay matter more than daily weather.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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