City comparison
No. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 195 in Fresno, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 211, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,421 in Fresno.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Fresno and Fort Wayne. Fresno averages 69°F while Fort Wayne averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,421 versus $999.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and Fresno 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
Fresno and Fort Wayne are 1,874 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,421 a month in Fresno to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $422 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $70,991 in Fresno to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $9,569 (13%).
The crime index goes from 195 in Fresno to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 91 points (47%).
The move
Fort Wayne and Fresno are 1,874 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,421 a month in Fresno, up $422 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $70,991 in Fresno, up $9,569 (16%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 195 in Fresno, up 91 points (88%).
Fresno, CA
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 Fresno and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 30% cheaper than Fresno
Fresno
$1,421/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,421 in Fresno, so Fort Wayne is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $422/month back in your pocket ($5,064/year). Over five years that's $25,320 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 Fresno, 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
16% higher
Fresno's median income is 16% higher than Fort Wayne
Fresno
Winner$70,991
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $70,991 in Fresno versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Fresno (about $9,569 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, Fresno 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
47% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 47% lower than Fresno
Fresno
195 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 195 in Fresno (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% 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. Fresno can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Fresno weather is 64% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Fresno
Winner69°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Fresno averages about 69°F (78°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). Fresno sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Fort Wayne averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Fresno 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
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 16% higher ($70,991), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 69°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 30% 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 47% lower than Fresno (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
Safety is the widest gap: Fort Wayne scores 59/100 versus 40/100 in Fresno. Rent is $999/month in Fort Wayne and $1,421/month in Fresno, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Fresno still pays more locally ($70,991 median income vs $61,422), which can offset the lease if your field pays Fresno rates.
Weather averages land near 69°F in Fresno and 51°F in Fort Wayne.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Fort Wayne; Fresno only makes sense when you have walked the Fresno ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,421 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fresno and Fort Wayne, plus other cities in CA and IN.
