City comparison
No. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 124 in Lincoln, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 114, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,086 in Lincoln.
The income gap between Lincoln and Fort Wayne is significant: $71,867 median household versus $61,422. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,086 in Lincoln and $999 in Fort Wayne.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and Lincoln 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Lincoln and Fort Wayne are 602 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $87 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $10,445 (15%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 20 points (16%).
The move
Fort Wayne and Lincoln are 602 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, up $87 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $10,445 (17%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 124 in Lincoln, up 20 points (19%).
Lincoln, NE
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 Lincoln and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 8% cheaper than Lincoln
Lincoln
$1,086/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,086 in Lincoln, so Fort Wayne is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $87, or $1,044 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
17% higher
Lincoln's median income is 17% higher than Fort Wayne
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Lincoln (about $10,445 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, Lincoln 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
16% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 16% lower than Lincoln
Lincoln
124 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 124 in Lincoln (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 16% 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. Lincoln can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
18% more comfortable
Lincoln weather is 18% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Lincoln
Winner55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). Lincoln averages around 55°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. Lincoln scores 18% 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 17% higher ($71,867), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 55°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 8% 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 16% lower than Lincoln (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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Lincoln at $71,867 median income versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne. Housing ($999 in Fort Wayne, $1,086 in Lincoln) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
With only $87 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Lincoln and 51°F in Fort Wayne.
If local pay drives your move, Lincoln is the stronger match ($71,867 median income against $61,422). If an employer or family tie already points to Fort Wayne, treat $999/month rent and $61,422 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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