Elkhart vs Fort Wayne
Elkhart, Indiana versus Fort Wayne, Indiana: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Elkhart and Fort Wayne score about the same overall (49 vs 50 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Elkhart | Fort Wayne |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $47k | $58k |
| Cost of Living | $45k | $47k |
| Home Value | $119k | $153k |
| Monthly Rent | $896 | $904 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $984 | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.93% | 0.87% |
| Income Tax | 5.20% | 4.95% |
| Sales Tax | 7.00% | 7.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.88% | 9.55% |
| Unemployment | 3.9% | 5.8% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 72°F | 74°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2 in | 38.7 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.9 in | 33.6 in |
| Sunny Days | 208 days | 173 days |
| Summer Humidity | 62°F | 63°F |
| Comfortable Days | 96 days | 103 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 46.2 | 24.6 |
| Air Quality | 49 AQI | 48 AQI |
| School Quality | 52.3 | 54.0 |
| Violent Crime | 2595/100k | 1693/100k |
| Property Crime | 2990/100k | 2391/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 53,785 | 264,514 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.91 | 0.95 |
| Political Leaning | R+29 | R+11 |
| White (%) | 57.0% | 64.8% |
| Black (%) | 12.0% | 15.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 26.2% | 9.7% |
| Asian (%) | 0.7% | 5.6% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.0% | 5.0% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 18 min | 21 min |
| Walkability | 8.8/20 | 14.6/20 |
| Airport Distance | 85 mi | 112 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 86.4% | 88.8% |
| Amenities Nearby | 17.85 | 11.15 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Elkhart or Fort Wayne more affordable?
- Elkhart has the lower cost of living: its index is $45k, compared with Elkhart's $45k and Fort Wayne's $47k. Median rent is $896 in Elkhart versus $904 in Fort Wayne.
- Is Elkhart or Fort Wayne safer?
- Fort Wayne has the lower violent crime rate. Elkhart reports 2595/100k and Fort Wayne reports 1693/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Elkhart or Fort Wayne?
- The median home value is $119k in Elkhart and $153k in Fort Wayne, so homes are more affordable in Elkhart.