City comparison
No. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Fort Wayne split most clearly. Fort Wayne scores 157 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia and $999 in Fort Wayne.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and Philadelphia 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
Philadelphia and Fort Wayne are 529 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $398 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $531 (1%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 157 points (60%).
The move
Fort Wayne and Philadelphia are 529 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, up $398 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $61,953 in Philadelphia, up $531 (1%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 261 in Philadelphia, up 157 points (151%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 28% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,397/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,397 in Philadelphia, so Fort Wayne is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $398/month back in your pocket ($4,776/year). Over five years that's $23,880 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 Philadelphia, 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
1% higher
Philadelphia's median income is 1% higher than Fort Wayne
Philadelphia
Winner$61,953
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $61,953 in Philadelphia versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Philadelphia (about $531 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
60% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 60% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 60% 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. Philadelphia can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
13% more comfortable
Philadelphia weather is 13% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Philadelphia
Winner54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 54°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. Philadelphia scores 13% 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 1% higher ($61,953), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 54°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 28% 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 60% lower than Philadelphia (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 31/100 in Philadelphia, with typical rent at $999 versus $1,397. I would vet the exact ZIP in Philadelphia before trading 28 safety points for housing savings.
Philadelphia still pays more locally ($61,953 median income vs $61,422), which can offset the lease if your field pays Philadelphia rates.
Weather averages land near 54°F in Philadelphia and 51°F in Fort Wayne.
Fort Wayne clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Philadelphia deserves a serious look only when you already know the Philadelphia block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
Ready to move to Fort Wayne?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Fort Wayne when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Fort Wayne, plus other cities in PA and IN.
