City comparison
No. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
Safety is where Nashville and Fort Wayne split most clearly. Fort Wayne scores 178 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,586 in Nashville and $999 in Fort Wayne.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and Nashville 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
Nashville and Fort Wayne are 354 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $587 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $15,949 (21%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 178 points (63%).
The move
Fort Wayne and Nashville are 354 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $587 a month (59%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $77,371 in Nashville, up $15,949 (26%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 282 in Nashville, up 178 points (171%).
Nashville, TN
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 Nashville and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
37% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 37% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Fort Wayne is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $587/month back in your pocket ($7,044/year). Over five years that's $35,220 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 Nashville, 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
26% higher
Nashville's median income is 26% higher than Fort Wayne
Nashville
Winner$77,371
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Nashville (about $15,949 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, Nashville 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
63% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 63% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 63% 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. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
59% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 59% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Nashville
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Fort Wayne averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Nashville scores 59% 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 26% higher ($77,371), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 64°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 37% 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 63% lower than Nashville (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Fort Wayne: Fort Wayne scores 59/100 versus 28/100 in Nashville, with typical rent at $999 versus $1,586. I would vet the exact ZIP in Nashville before trading 31 safety points for housing savings.
Nashville still pays more locally ($77,371 median income vs $61,422), which can offset the lease if your field pays Nashville rates.
Weather averages land near 64°F in Nashville and 51°F in Fort Wayne.
Fort Wayne clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Nashville deserves a serious look only when you already know the Nashville block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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