City comparison
No. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 183 in Oklahoma City, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 197, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,130 in Oklahoma City.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Oklahoma City and Fort Wayne. Oklahoma City averages 61°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 $1,130 versus $999.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and Oklahoma 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 crime gap is citywide. Fort Wayne has rougher pockets and Oklahoma City has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oklahoma City and Fort Wayne are 776 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $131 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $7,234 (11%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 79 points (43%).
The move
Fort Wayne and Oklahoma City are 776 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, up $131 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, up $7,234 (12%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 183 in Oklahoma City, up 79 points (76%).
Oklahoma City, OK
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 Oklahoma City and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 12% cheaper than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
$1,130/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,130 in Oklahoma City, so Fort Wayne is 12% 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 $1,572, 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 Oklahoma City.
Planning to buy in Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Oklahoma City's median income is 12% higher than Fort Wayne
Oklahoma City
Winner$68,656
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $68,656 in Oklahoma City versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Oklahoma City (about $7,234 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, Oklahoma 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
43% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 43% lower than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
183 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 183 in Oklahoma City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 43% 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. Oklahoma City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
46% more comfortable
Oklahoma City weather is 46% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Oklahoma City
Winner61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Oklahoma City averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). Oklahoma City averages around 61°F. Fort Wayne averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Oklahoma City scores 46% 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 12% higher ($68,656), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°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 12% 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 43% lower than Oklahoma 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Fort Wayne: Fort Wayne scores 59/100 versus 42/100 in Oklahoma City, with typical rent at $999 versus $1,130. I would vet the exact ZIP in Oklahoma City before trading 17 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (59/100 in Fort Wayne vs 42/100 in Oklahoma City), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $999 in Fort Wayne and $1,130 in Oklahoma City.
If safety drives your move, Fort Wayne is the stronger match (59/100 safety versus 42/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Oklahoma City, treat $1,130/month rent and $68,656 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oklahoma City and Fort Wayne, plus other cities in OK and IN.
