City comparison
Yes. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 104 in Fort Wayne, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 84, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,413 in Madison.
The cost gap between Madison and Fort Wayne is the real story here. Fort Wayne comes in 29% cheaper on typical rent ($1,413 vs $999), which over a year adds up to $4,968. Median household income runs $78,050 in Madison and $61,422 in Fort Wayne.
Madison is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Fort Wayne makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Madison is the stronger move.
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
Madison and Fort Wayne are 257 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $414 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $16,628 (21%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 104 in Fort Wayne, up 13 points (14%).
The move
Fort Wayne and Madison are 257 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,413 a month in Madison, up $414 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $78,050 in Madison, up $16,628 (27%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 91 in Madison, down 13 points (13%).
Madison, WI
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 Madison and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
29% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 29% cheaper than Madison
Madison
$1,413/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,413 in Madison, so Fort Wayne is 29% cheaper. That's roughly $414/month back in your pocket ($4,968/year). Over five years that's $24,840 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 Madison, 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 Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
27% higher
Madison's median income is 27% higher than Fort Wayne
Madison
Winner$78,050
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $78,050 in Madison versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 27% higher in Madison (about $16,628 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, Madison 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
13% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 13% lower than Fort Wayne
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
104 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 104 in Fort Wayne (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 13% lower in Madison. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Madison, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Fort Wayne. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
5% more comfortable
Madison weather is 5% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Madison
Winner52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). Madison averages around 52°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. Madison scores 5% 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 27% higher ($78,050), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 52°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 13% lower than Fort Wayne (91 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 29% 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.
Bottom line
On rent alone, Fort Wayne undercuts Madison by $414/month ($999 vs $1,413). I would not pick Madison on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Fort Wayne rent at $999/month is still below Madison's $1,413, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 63/100 in Madison and 59/100 in Fort Wayne.
Fort Wayne is the default on housing cost at $999/month versus $1,413 in Madison; Madison stays in play when $78,050 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $414 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Madison and Fort Wayne, plus other cities in WI and IN.
