City comparison
No. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 151 in Reno, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,556 in Reno.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Reno and Fort Wayne. Reno averages 62°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 $1,556 versus $999.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and Reno 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
Reno and Fort Wayne are 1,818 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $557 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $19,338 (24%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 47 points (31%).
The move
Fort Wayne and Reno are 1,818 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,556 a month in Reno, up $557 a month (56%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $80,760 in Reno, up $19,338 (31%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 151 in Reno, up 47 points (45%).
Reno, NV
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 Reno and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
36% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 36% cheaper than Reno
Reno
$1,556/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,556 in Reno, so Fort Wayne is 36% cheaper. That's roughly $557/month back in your pocket ($6,684/year). Over five years that's $33,420 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 Reno, 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
31% higher
Reno's median income is 31% higher than Fort Wayne
Reno
Winner$80,760
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $80,760 in Reno versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 31% higher in Reno (about $19,338 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, Reno 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
31% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 31% lower than Reno
Reno
151 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 151 in Reno (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% 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. Reno can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
51% more comfortable
Reno weather is 51% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Reno
Winner62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Reno averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). Reno averages around 62°F. Fort Wayne averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Reno scores 51% 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 31% higher ($80,760), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 62°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 31% lower than Reno (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
Housing separates these metros first: $999/month in Fort Wayne versus $1,556 in Reno. Median income reads $61,422 in Fort Wayne and $80,760 in Reno, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Safety still diverges (59/100 in Fort Wayne vs 47/100 in Reno), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 62°F in Reno and 51°F in Fort Wayne.
If housing cost drives your move, Fort Wayne is the stronger match ($999/month rent against $1,556). If an employer or family tie already points to Reno, treat $1,556/month rent and $80,760 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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