City comparison
No. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 142 in Raleigh, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 128, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Raleigh and Fort Wayne. Raleigh averages 60°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 $1,572 versus $999.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and Raleigh 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
Raleigh and Fort Wayne are 510 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $573 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $23,973 (28%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 38 points (27%).
The move
Fort Wayne and Raleigh are 510 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $573 a month (57%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $23,973 (39%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 142 in Raleigh, up 38 points (37%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
36% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 36% cheaper than Raleigh
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Fort Wayne is 36% cheaper. That's roughly $573/month back in your pocket ($6,876/year). Over five years that's $34,380 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 Raleigh, 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
39% higher
Raleigh's median income is 39% higher than Fort Wayne
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 39% higher in Raleigh (about $23,973 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, Raleigh 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
27% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 27% lower than Raleigh
Raleigh
142 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 142 in Raleigh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% 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. Raleigh can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
41% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 41% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Fort Wayne averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh scores 41% 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 39% higher ($85,395), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°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 36% 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 27% lower than Raleigh (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
On rent alone, Fort Wayne undercuts Raleigh by $573/month ($999 vs $1,572). I would not pick Raleigh on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Fort Wayne rent at $999/month is still below Raleigh's $1,572, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 49/100 in Raleigh and 59/100 in Fort Wayne.
Between Raleigh and Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne is ahead on housing cost — $999/month rent against $1,572. Lean Raleigh instead when your $85,395 income offer in Raleigh outweighs saving $573/month in Fort Wayne.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Raleigh and Fort Wayne, plus other cities in NC and IN.
