City comparison
No. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $999 in Fort Wayne.
Safety is where St Louis and Fort Wayne split most clearly. Fort Wayne scores 248 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $997 in St Louis and $999 in Fort Wayne.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Louis costs less and Fort Wayne 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 crime gap is citywide. Fort Wayne has rougher pockets and St Louis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
St Louis and Fort Wayne are 320 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, up $2 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, up $5,262 (9%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 248 points (70%).
The move
Fort Wayne and St Louis are 320 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $997 a month in St Louis, down $2 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $56,160 in St Louis, down $5,262 (9%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 352 in St Louis, up 248 points (238%).
St Louis, MO
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 St Louis and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
St Louis rent is 1% cheaper than Fort Wayne
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Fort Wayne
$999/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $999 in Fort Wayne, so St Louis is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $2, or $24 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Fort Wayne's median income is 9% higher than St Louis
St Louis
$56,160
Fort Wayne
Winner$61,422
Median household income is $61,422 in Fort Wayne versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Fort Wayne (about $5,262 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
70% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 70% lower than St Louis
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 70% 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. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
31% more comfortable
St Louis weather is 31% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
St Louis
Winner58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). St Louis averages around 58°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. St Louis scores 31% 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick St Louis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (58°F) beat Fort Wayne on this page's weather index by 31%. Fort Wayne may pay more or cost less, but St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Fort Wayne is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($61,422). Start with Fort Wayne if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 70% lower than St Louis (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Fort Wayne: Fort Wayne scores 59/100 versus 22/100 in St Louis, with matched rent near $999/month. I would vet the exact ZIP in St Louis before trading 37 safety points for an identical lease.
Median income is $61,422 in Fort Wayne versus $56,160 in St Louis — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Pick Fort Wayne when you want the stronger safety signal (59/100). Otherwise, St Louis's case rests on a St Louis ZIP you trust at $997 rent.
Weather averages land near 58°F in St Louis and 51°F in Fort Wayne.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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