City comparison
No. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 183 in San Francisco, 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 $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Fort Wayne is significant: $140,970 median household versus $61,422. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $999 in Fort Wayne.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and San Francisco 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 Francisco and Fort Wayne are 1,988 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $1,477 a month (60%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $79,548 (56%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 79 points (43%).
The move
Fort Wayne and San Francisco are 1,988 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $1,477 a month (148%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $79,548 (130%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 183 in San Francisco, up 79 points (76%).
San Francisco, CA
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 Francisco and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
60% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 60% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Fort Wayne is 60% cheaper. That's roughly $1,477/month back in your pocket ($17,724/year). Over five years that's $88,620 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 Francisco, 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
130% higher
San Francisco's median income is 130% higher than Fort Wayne
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 130% higher in San Francisco (about $79,548 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, San Francisco 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
43% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 43% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 43% 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 Francisco can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
San Francisco weather is 64% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
San Francisco
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). San Francisco 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. San Francisco 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 130% higher ($140,970), 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.
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 60% 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 43% lower than San Francisco (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
San Francisco runs $2,476/month while Fort Wayne sits at $999 — roughly 60% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is San Francisco-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Fort Wayne rent at $999/month is still below San Francisco's $2,476, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 42/100 in San Francisco and 59/100 in Fort Wayne.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in Fort Wayne; San Francisco only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for San Francisco at $140,970 income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Francisco and Fort Wayne, plus other cities in CA and IN.
