City comparison
No. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,324 in San Antonio.
Climate is the sharpest divide between San Antonio and Fort Wayne. San Antonio averages 72°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 $1,324 versus $999.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and San Antonio 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
San Antonio and Fort Wayne are 1,103 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $325 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $3,634 (6%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 108 points (51%).
The move
Fort Wayne and San Antonio are 1,103 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, up $325 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $65,056 in San Antonio, up $3,634 (6%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 212 in San Antonio, up 108 points (104%).
San Antonio, 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 San Antonio and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 25% cheaper than San Antonio
San Antonio
$1,324/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,324 in San Antonio, so Fort Wayne is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $325/month back in your pocket ($3,900/year). Over five years that's $19,500 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 San Antonio, 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
6% higher
San Antonio's median income is 6% higher than Fort Wayne
San Antonio
Winner$65,056
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 6% higher in San Antonio (about $3,634 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
51% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 51% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 51% 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. San Antonio can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 64% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
San Antonio
Winner72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°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. San Antonio 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 6% higher ($65,056), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 72°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 25% 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 51% lower than San Antonio (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 37/100 in San Antonio). Typical rent is $999 in Fort Wayne and $1,324 in San Antonio; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (59/100 in Fort Wayne vs 37/100 in San Antonio), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $999 in Fort Wayne and $1,324 in San Antonio.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Fort Wayne; San Antonio only makes sense when you have walked the San Antonio ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,324 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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