Fort Wayne, Indiana is a big city with a population of 260,954 inhabitants. At 74%, the majority of the Fort Wayne population is White; this is followed by 15% Black and 4% Asian. If you are not a fan of long commutes, you will enjoy living in Fort Wayne. With average one way commute time of only 20 minutes, getting to and from work is a breeze compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Fort Wayne could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Indiana if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like crime, commute, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Fort Wayne and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Fort Wayne to Indiana and the national average.
Fort Wayne has a livability score of 84 out of 100 and is ranked #3 in Indiana and #547 in the USA. This is a great score, as Fort Wayne ranks well in multiple categories! Fort Wayne has also earned the rare honor of ranking in the top 10 percentile among all cities. Based on the grades for each individual category, Fort Wayne has been rewarded with high marks for amenities (A+), cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). There are some categories that Fort Wayne scores poorly for, including: employment (D). It might be worth taking a closer look to determine why.
Based on the proximity of local amenities like grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, shops, etc., Fort Wayne has received a higher than average score for its local amenities. If you’re planning on relocating and making this area your permanent home, it’s nice to know that there is an ample amount of amenities and things to do within walking distance or a short drive. Some of the interesting things to do and attractions include: Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, DeBrand Fine Chocolates, and Allen County Public Library.
Unemployment rates can range pretty dramatically from one city to another. Knowing that Fort Wayne has an unemployment rate of 1.34% could mean increased job opportunities with a higher demand for workers. It could also lead to higher wages as the demand for workers exceeds the availability of jobs. Most importantly, it could be a sign of a healthy and thriving local economy.
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Fort Wayne has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Assuming that Fort Wayne meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Fort Wayne. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Fort Wayne are simply unattainable. The median home price for Fort Wayne homes is $103,100, which is 18.5% lower than the Indiana average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Fort Wayne, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.3, which is 8% lower than the Indiana average.
| Statistic | Fort Wayne | Indiana | National |
| Average one way commute | 20min | 23min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 83.6% | 83.0% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 9.1% | 8.9% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.0% | 1.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.3% | 2.1% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 3.9% | 3.5% | 4.6% |
| Walk | Bike | Compact | Car | S.U.V. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | |||||
| Duration | |||||
| Cost/Month |
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