City comparison
Yes. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 104 in Fort Wayne, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 84, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
The income gap between Plano and Fort Wayne is significant: $112,253 median household versus $61,422. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,841 in Plano and $999 in Fort Wayne.
Plano 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 Plano 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
Plano and Fort Wayne are 848 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $842 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $50,831 (45%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 104 in Fort Wayne, up 42 points (68%).
The move
Fort Wayne and Plano are 848 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $842 a month (84%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $112,253 in Plano, up $50,831 (83%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 62 in Plano, down 42 points (40%).
Plano, TX
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 Plano and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
46% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 46% cheaper than Plano
Plano
$1,841/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,841 in Plano, so Fort Wayne is 46% cheaper. That's roughly $842/month back in your pocket ($10,104/year). Over five years that's $50,520 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 Plano, 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 Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
83% higher
Plano's median income is 83% higher than Fort Wayne
Plano
Winner$112,253
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 83% higher in Plano (about $50,831 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, Plano 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
40% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 40% lower than Fort Wayne
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
104 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 104 in Fort Wayne (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 40% lower in Plano. 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, Plano is the easier city. Fort Wayne can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Plano weather is 64% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Plano
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Plano averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). Plano sits near 65°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. Plano 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 83% higher ($112,253), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 65°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 40% lower than Fort Wayne (62 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 46% 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
Housing separates these metros first: $999/month in Fort Wayne versus $1,841 in Plano. Median income reads $61,422 in Fort Wayne and $112,253 in Plano, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Fort Wayne rent at $999/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 75/100 in Plano and 59/100 in Fort Wayne.
Fort Wayne clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Plano deserves a serious look only when your $112,253 income offer in Plano outweighs saving $842/month in Fort Wayne.
Common questions
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