Fort Wayne, Indiana

Indiana's rising second city

Midwest Fort Wayne Metro

U.S. News (2025)

#71 Best Places to Live

Forbes (2024)

#15 Best Cities for Affordable Housing

WhereAtHome Score

74.8

C

out of 100

Overview

Fort Wayne is Indiana's second-largest city and has invested heavily in downtown revitalization with Promenade Park and Parkview Field. Very affordable housing, strong manufacturing base, and a growing tech sector make it attractive for families. The city offers small-town feel with mid-sized city amenities.

Key Highlights

  • Very affordable housing market
  • Revitalized downtown with Promenade Park
  • Strong manufacturing and healthcare jobs
  • Parkview Field minor league baseball
  • Three rivers confluence
  • Growing tech and defense sector

Key Metrics

Population 2024

263,886

Source: Census ACS

Median Home Value 2026

$249,481

Source: Zillow ZHVI

Median Household Income 2023

$52,891

Source: Census ACS

Average Commute 2023

21.2 min

Source: Census ACS

Walk Score 2025

32

Source: Walk Score

Crime Level 2024

Moderate

Source: FBI CDE

School Rating

2025

C+ (5.8/10)

Source: Curated

Cost of Living Index 2025

82 (100 = U.S. avg)

Source: Curated

2024 Presidential Election

Allen County (county-level results)

43%
55%
Democrat 69,960
Republican 90,283
Leans R+12.5

Source: County-level results from MIT Election Data + Science Lab. Learn more

Climate

Summer High

84°F

Winter Low

18°F

Annual Rainfall

38"

Sunny Days

186

Amenities & Infrastructure

86+ Parks

Green spaces and recreation

5 Major Hospitals

Healthcare access

3 Universities

Higher education institutions

Public Transit Available

Bus, rail, or metro service

Major Employers

Parkview Health Lutheran Health General Motors BAE Systems

Score Breakdown

6 of 6 score factors available. Missing factors are excluded and available weights are rescaled.

Housing Affordability 82.3/100

Median home value relative to national average (Weight: 20%)

Income vs Housing 58.4/100

How affordable housing is relative to local incomes (Weight: 20%)

Commute Time 69.2/100

Average commute time compared to national average (Weight: 15%)

Crime 50/100

Overall crime levels based on FBI crime statistics (Weight: 20%)

Walkability 32/100

Walk Score — ease of daily errands on foot (Weight: 15%)

Purchasing Power 47.2/100

Median income relative to national average, adjusted for cost of living (Weight: 10%)

WhereAtHome Score 74.8

Location

Fort Wayne, IN (41.0793, -85.1394)
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Start Comparison

Last Updated: 2026-07-01

Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow, FBI Crime Data Explorer, Walk Score, and Niche.

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