City comparison
Yes. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 165 in St Petersburg, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 167, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Fort Wayne and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Fort Wayne and St Petersburg. Fort Wayne averages 51°F while St Petersburg averages 77°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $999 versus $1,663.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and St Petersburg 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
Fort Wayne and St Petersburg are 924 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, up $664 a month (66%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $75,192 in St Petersburg, up $13,770 (22%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 165 in St Petersburg, up 61 points (59%).
The move
St Petersburg and Fort Wayne are 924 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $664 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $13,770 (18%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 61 points (37%).
Fort Wayne, IN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Petersburg, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Wayne and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
40% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 40% cheaper than St Petersburg
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
St Petersburg
$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,663 in St Petersburg, so Fort Wayne is 40% cheaper. That's roughly $664/month back in your pocket ($7,968/year). Over five years that's $39,840 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 St Petersburg, 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
22% higher
St Petersburg's median income is 22% higher than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne
$61,422
St Petersburg
Winner$75,192
Median household income is $75,192 in St Petersburg versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 22% higher in St Petersburg (about $13,770 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, St Petersburg 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
37% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 37% lower than St Petersburg
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
165 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 165 in St Petersburg (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 37% 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. St Petersburg can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
St Petersburg weather is 64% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
St Petersburg
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Fort Wayne averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Petersburg sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg 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
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 40% 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 37% lower than St Petersburg (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 ($75,192), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
On rent alone, Fort Wayne undercuts St Petersburg by $664/month ($999 vs $1,663). I would not pick St Petersburg on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Safety still diverges (59/100 in Fort Wayne vs 45/100 in St Petersburg), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Safety scores read 59/100 in Fort Wayne and 45/100 in St Petersburg.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in Fort Wayne; St Petersburg only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for St Petersburg at $75,192 income.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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