City comparison
No. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
The income gap between Seattle and Fort Wayne is significant: $123,860 median household versus $61,422. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,030 in Seattle and $999 in Fort Wayne.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fort Wayne costs less and Seattle 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
Seattle and Fort Wayne are 1,872 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $1,031 a month (51%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $62,438 (50%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 148 points (59%).
The move
Fort Wayne and Seattle are 1,872 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $1,031 a month (103%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $123,860 in Seattle, up $62,438 (102%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 252 in Seattle, up 148 points (142%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
51% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 51% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Fort Wayne is 51% cheaper. That's roughly $1,031/month back in your pocket ($12,372/year). Over five years that's $61,860 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 Seattle, 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
102% higher
Seattle's median income is 102% higher than Fort Wayne
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 102% higher in Seattle (about $62,438 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, Seattle 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
59% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 59% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% 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. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
18% more comfortable
Seattle weather is 18% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Seattle
Winner55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). Seattle averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Fort Wayne averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Seattle scores 18% 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 102% higher ($123,860), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 55°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 51% 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 59% lower than Seattle (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 $2,030 in Seattle. Median income reads $61,422 in Fort Wayne and $123,860 in Seattle, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Fort Wayne rent at $999/month is still below Seattle's $2,030, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne.
If housing cost drives your move, Fort Wayne is the stronger match ($999/month rent against $2,030). If an employer or family tie already points to Seattle, treat $2,030/month rent and $123,860 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Seattle and Fort Wayne, plus other cities in WA and IN.
