Home › IN › Fort Wayne, IN Cost of living in Fort Wayne, IN Livability score 72 · cost-of-living index 89.7 (US = 100)
How Fort Wayne compares Where Fort Wayne falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 90 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 90 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $260k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $260k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $137 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $137 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.81% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.81% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 360 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 360 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 17.9 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 17.9 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 86° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 86° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 20° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 20° Map of Fort Wayne Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 89.7 metro-area #25 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 94.8 metro-area #63 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.11 metro-area #25 of 200 Median household income $66,758 metro-area #129 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $39,504 metro-area #104 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 36.8 years metro-area #57 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 29.7% metro-area #137 of 200 Foreign-born residents 6.9% metro-area #121 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 70.4% metro-area #41 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 4.76% metro-area #73 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) -2.2% metro-area #191 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $259,816 metro-area #51 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.9× metro-area #44 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +2.9% metro-area #55 of 200 Price per square foot $137 metro-area #52 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,901 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,264 metro-area #19 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 1,145 Median days on market 8 metro-area #29 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.3% state #58 of 200 Combined sales tax 7.00% state #64 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 3.00% Capital gains tax 3.05% state #49 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.81% metro-area #89 of 200 Median property tax paid $1,422 metro-area #32 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 75.8 years metro-area #127 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,600 state #65 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 7.9% metro-area #92 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 71 metro-area #122 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $12,000 state #110 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $200 state #135 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.20% of value (~$336/yr) state #155 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 9 Avg commute to work 22 min metro-area #35 of 200 Commute by driving alone 79.8% metro-area #176 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 21.9% metro-area #21 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 17.9¢/kWh state #122 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $161 state #122 of 200 Gasoline $3.30/gal state #94 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $72 state #100 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $102 state #93 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $81 state #121 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,600 state #80 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,400 state #18 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 81.5 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #36 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $600 state #16 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 47 metro-area #107 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 900 metro-area #66 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 94% state #64 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 5,700 metro-area #141 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 13 metro-area #61 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 86°F metro-area #87 of 200 Avg winter low 20°F metro-area #147 of 200 Annual precipitation 43.6" metro-area #101 of 200 Annual snowfall 25.5" metro-area #137 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 55% metro-area #150 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6a Frost window 04-30 → 10-15
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 360 state #61 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,000 state #83 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 39 metro-area #123 of 200 Parks 16 Hiking areas 7 Golf courses 20 Shooting ranges 8 Lakes 20
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Fort Wayne Major public and private employers in the Fort Wayne, IN area.
Employer Sector Jobs Parkview Health Healthcare Careers → GE Power Conversion Manufacturing Search → L3Harris Technologies Aerospace/Defense Careers → Sweetwater Sound Manufacturing Careers → Lincoln National Life Insurance Finance Careers →
Salaries by occupation in Fort Wayne Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $163,900 Pharmacists $142,890 Physician Assistants $125,080 Marketing Managers $122,550 Lawyers $113,160 Human Resources Managers $110,730 Financial Managers $104,960 General & Operations Managers $101,960 Software Developers $101,280 Physical Therapists $95,250 Construction Managers $94,700 Mechanical Engineers $80,630 Civil Engineers $79,400 Data Scientists $78,060 Dental Hygienists $77,650 Real Estate Sales Agents $76,550 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $75,590 Registered Nurses $74,730 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $71,540 Accountants & Auditors $68,510 Electricians $66,670 Web Developers $56,780 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $56,160 Carpenters $53,730 Elementary School Teachers $49,060 Graphic Designers $46,670 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $46,590 Medical Assistants $40,090
Cities in the Fort Wayne area
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
QuiltMap LLC Affiliate disclosure: some links on this site are affiliate links —
we may earn a commission when you use them, at no extra cost to you.
Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
© 2026 SalaryCompareTool. All rights reserved.
A QuiltMap LLC company.
