City comparison
No. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 150 in Jacksonville, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 155, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Jacksonville and Fort Wayne. Jacksonville averages 68°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 $1,465 versus $999.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and Jacksonville 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
Jacksonville and Fort Wayne are 771 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $466 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $8,450 (12%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 46 points (31%).
The move
Fort Wayne and Jacksonville are 771 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, up $466 a month (47%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $69,872 in Jacksonville, up $8,450 (14%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 150 in Jacksonville, up 46 points (44%).
Jacksonville, FL
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 Jacksonville and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 32% cheaper than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$1,465/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,465 in Jacksonville, so Fort Wayne is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $466/month back in your pocket ($5,592/year). Over five years that's $27,960 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 Jacksonville, 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
14% higher
Jacksonville's median income is 14% higher than Fort Wayne
Jacksonville
Winner$69,872
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Jacksonville (about $8,450 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, Jacksonville 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
31% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 31% lower than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
150 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 150 in Jacksonville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% 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. Jacksonville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Jacksonville weather is 64% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Jacksonville
Winner68°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Jacksonville averages about 68°F (74°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 68°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. Jacksonville 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 14% higher ($69,872), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°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 32% 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 31% lower than Jacksonville (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
On weather alone, Jacksonville is the warmer market (68°F) and Fort Wayne the cooler (51°F). Typical leases run $1,465 and $999; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Jacksonville still pays more locally ($69,872 median income vs $61,422), which can offset the lease if your field pays Jacksonville rates.
Safety scores read 48/100 in Jacksonville and 59/100 in Fort Wayne.
Between Jacksonville and Fort Wayne, Jacksonville is ahead on climate — 68°F typical weather versus 51°F. Lean Fort Wayne instead when you would rather tolerate 51°F than optimize for Jacksonville's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Fort Wayne, plus other cities in FL and IN.
