Fort Wayne vs South Bend
Fort Wayne, Indiana versus South Bend, Indiana: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
South Bend edges out Fort Wayne on overall objective livability (58 vs 50 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Fort Wayne | South Bend |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $58k | $49k |
| Cost of Living | $47k | $42k |
| Home Value | $153k | $114k |
| Monthly Rent | $904 | $935 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.87% | 1.03% |
| Income Tax | 4.95% | 5.20% |
| Sales Tax | 7.00% | 7.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.55% | 9.89% |
| Unemployment | 5.8% | 5.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 24°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 74°F | 72°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7 in | 40.9 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6 in | 64.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 173 days | 208 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 103 days | 99 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 24.6 | 7.4 |
| Air Quality | 48 AQI | 50 AQI |
| School Quality | 54.0 | 72.3 |
| Violent Crime | 1693/100k | 174/100k |
| Property Crime | 2391/100k | 173/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 264,514 | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 33.4 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.50 | 0.61 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.91 |
| Political Leaning | R+11 | Even |
| White (%) | 64.8% | 51.1% |
| Black (%) | 15.0% | 24.9% |
| Hispanic (%) | 9.7% | 16.4% |
| Asian (%) | 5.6% | 2.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 21 min | 20 min |
| Walkability | 14.6/20 | 9.6/20 |
| Airport Distance | 112 mi | 77 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 88.8% | 82.2% |
| Amenities Nearby | 11.15 | 29.88 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | 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 Fort Wayne or South Bend more affordable?
- South Bend has the lower cost of living: its index is $42k, compared with Fort Wayne's $47k and South Bend's $42k. Median rent is $904 in Fort Wayne versus $935 in South Bend.
- Is Fort Wayne or South Bend safer?
- South Bend has the lower violent crime rate. Fort Wayne reports 1693/100k and South Bend reports 174/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Fort Wayne or South Bend?
- The median home value is $153k in Fort Wayne and $114k in South Bend, so homes are more affordable in South Bend.