City comparison
No. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 343 in Kansas City, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 423, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,238 in Kansas City.
Safety is where Kansas City and Fort Wayne split most clearly. Fort Wayne scores 239 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,238 in Kansas City and $999 in Fort Wayne.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and Kansas City 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
Kansas City and Fort Wayne are 518 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,238 a month in Kansas City to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $239 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $69,166 in Kansas City to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $7,744 (11%).
The crime index goes from 343 in Kansas City to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 239 points (70%).
The move
Fort Wayne and Kansas City are 518 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,238 a month in Kansas City, up $239 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $69,166 in Kansas City, up $7,744 (13%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 343 in Kansas City, up 239 points (230%).
Kansas City, MO
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 Kansas City and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 19% cheaper than Kansas City
Kansas City
$1,238/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,238 in Kansas City, so Fort Wayne is 19% 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 $2,868, 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 Kansas City.
Planning to buy in Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
13% higher
Kansas City's median income is 13% higher than Fort Wayne
Kansas City
Winner$69,166
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $69,166 in Kansas City versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Kansas City (about $7,744 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, Kansas City 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
70% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 70% lower than Kansas City
Kansas City
343 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 343 in Kansas City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 70% 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. Kansas City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
31% more comfortable
Kansas City weather is 31% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Kansas City
Winner58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Kansas City averages about 58°F (66°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). Kansas City averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Fort Wayne averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Kansas City scores 31% 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 13% higher ($69,166), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 58°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 19% 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 70% lower than Kansas City (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 23/100 in Kansas City. Rent is $999/month in Fort Wayne and $1,238/month in Kansas City, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Kansas City still pays more locally ($69,166 median income vs $61,422), which can offset the lease if your field pays Kansas City rates.
Weather averages land near 58°F in Kansas City and 51°F in Fort Wayne.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Fort Wayne; Kansas City only makes sense when you have walked the Kansas City ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,238 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Fort Wayne when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Kansas City and Fort Wayne, plus other cities in MO and IN.
