City comparison
No. Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 84 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,052 in Tulsa.
Safety is where Tulsa and Fort Wayne split most clearly. Fort Wayne scores 132 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,052 in Tulsa and $999 in Fort Wayne.
Fort Wayne is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Tulsa makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Fort Wayne is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Fort Wayne has rougher pockets and Tulsa has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Tulsa and Fort Wayne are 679 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $53 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, up $1,584 (3%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 104 in Fort Wayne, down 132 points (56%).
The move
Fort Wayne and Tulsa are 679 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, up $53 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $1,584 (3%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 236 in Tulsa, up 132 points (127%).
Tulsa, OK
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 Tulsa and Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 5% cheaper than Tulsa
Tulsa
$1,052/mo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,052 in Tulsa, so Fort Wayne is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $53, or $636 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 Fort Wayne? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Fort Wayne's median income is 3% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa
$59,838
Fort Wayne
Winner$61,422
Median household income is $61,422 in Fort Wayne versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Fort Wayne (about $1,584 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
56% lower crime
Fort Wayne's crime index is 56% lower than Tulsa
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne
Winner104 (100 = avg)
Fort Wayne's crime index is 104 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 56% 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. Tulsa can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
51% more comfortable
Tulsa weather is 51% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Tulsa
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs); Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs). Tulsa averages around 62°F. Fort Wayne averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tulsa 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Tulsa if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (62°F) beat Fort Wayne on this page's weather index by 51%. Fort Wayne may pay more or cost less, but Tulsa 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 clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 3% 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 56% lower than Tulsa (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 34/100 in Tulsa). Typical rent is $999 in Fort Wayne and $1,052 in Tulsa; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (59/100 in Fort Wayne vs 34/100 in Tulsa), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $61,422 in Fort Wayne versus $59,838 in Tulsa.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Fort Wayne; Tulsa only makes sense when you have walked the Tulsa ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,052 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tulsa and Fort Wayne, plus other cities in OK and IN.
