City comparison
No. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 241, using 2022 FBI data for Orlando and 2024-2025 FBI data for Fort Wayne.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Orlando and Fort Wayne. Orlando averages 71°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 $1,747 versus $999.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and Orlando 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
Orlando and Fort Wayne are 895 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $748 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $10,914 (15%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 138 points (57%).
The move
Fort Wayne and Orlando are 895 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $748 a month (75%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $72,336 in Orlando, up $10,914 (18%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 242 in Orlando, up 138 points (133%).
Orlando, FL
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 Orlando and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
43% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 43% cheaper than Orlando
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Fort Wayne is 43% cheaper. That's roughly $748/month back in your pocket ($8,976/year). Over five years that's $44,880 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 Orlando, 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
18% higher
Orlando's median income is 18% higher than Fort Wayne
Orlando
Winner$72,336
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Orlando (about $10,914 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, Orlando 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
57% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 57% lower than Orlando
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% 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. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 64% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Orlando averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). Orlando sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Fort Wayne averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Orlando scores 64% 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 18% higher ($72,336), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°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 43% 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 57% lower than Orlando (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Fort Wayne leads on safety (59/100 vs 33/100 in Orlando). Typical rent is $999 in Fort Wayne and $1,747 in Orlando; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Orlando still pays more locally ($72,336 median income vs $61,422), which can offset the lease if your field pays Orlando rates.
Weather averages land near 71°F in Orlando and 51°F in Fort Wayne.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Fort Wayne; Orlando only makes sense when you have walked the Orlando ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,747 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Orlando and Fort Wayne, plus other cities in FL and IN.
