City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 104 in Fort Wayne, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 84, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Fort Wayne and Irving. Fort Wayne averages 51°F while Irving averages 67°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $999 versus $1,619.
Irving 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 Irving 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 Irving are 868 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $620 a month (62%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $81,830 in Irving, up $20,408 (33%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 99 in Irving, down 5 points (5%).
The move
Irving and Fort Wayne are 868 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $620 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $20,408 (25%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 104 in Fort Wayne, up 5 points (5%).
Fort Wayne, IN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irving, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Wayne and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
38% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 38% cheaper than Irving
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,619 in Irving, so Fort Wayne is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $620/month back in your pocket ($7,440/year). Over five years that's $37,200 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 Irving, 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 Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
33% higher
Irving's median income is 33% higher than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 33% higher in Irving (about $20,408 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, Irving 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
5% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 5% lower than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne
104 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 104 in Fort Wayne (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% lower in Irving. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Irving, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Fort Wayne. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Irving weather is 64% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Irving
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs); Irving averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Fort Wayne averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Irving sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving scores 64% 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 38% 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 33% higher ($81,830), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Irving is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 5% lower than Fort Wayne (99 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
On rent alone, Fort Wayne undercuts Irving by $620/month ($999 vs $1,619). I would not pick Irving on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Fort Wayne rent at $999/month is still below Irving's $1,619, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $81,830 in Irving versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne.
Between Fort Wayne and Irving, Fort Wayne is ahead on housing cost — $999/month rent against $1,619. Lean Irving instead when your $81,830 income offer in Irving outweighs saving $620/month in Fort Wayne.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fort Wayne and Irving, plus other cities in IN and TX.
