Median rent is 14% lower in Fort Wayne ($959/mo vs $1,112/mo). Buying is cheaper in Fort Wayne, where the median home runs $169,700 versus $207,000. Households earn more in Indianapolis ($62,995 vs $60,293 a year).
City A
Fort Wayne, IN
City B
Indianapolis, IN
How much would you need to earn in Indianapolis, IN to maintain your standard of living from Fort Wayne, IN?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Fort Wayne
Indiana
Indianapolis
Indiana
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Fort Wayne at $959/mo compared to $1,112/mo in Indianapolis (14% gap). Median home values are within 18% of each other: $169,700 in Fort Wayne and $207,000 in Indianapolis.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Indiana's top income tax rate is 3.05% versus 3.05% in Indiana, so Indianapolis is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 7.00% in Indiana and 7.00% in Indiana; Indianapolis has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Fort Wayne
Income tax: 3.05%
Sales tax: 7.00%
Indianapolis
Income tax: 3.05%
Sales tax: 7.00%
Indianapolis has cleaner air on average: 29.0 AQI (Good) compared to 38.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Fort Wayne if you prioritize cheaper rent ($959/mo median).
Pick Indianapolis if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 29.0).
Is Fort Wayne cheaper than Indianapolis?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Fort Wayne vs Indianapolis?
Median rent is $959/mo in Fort Wayne, IN and $1,112/mo in Indianapolis, IN. Fort Wayne, IN has the lower rent by about 14%.
Which has higher salaries — Fort Wayne or Indianapolis?
Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN. Indianapolis, IN has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Indianapolis, IN has better air quality on average: 29.0 AQI versus 38.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Fort Wayne or Indianapolis?
Indiana's top income tax rate is 3.05% and Indiana's is 3.05%. Indianapolis, IN has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Indianapolis to match my Fort Wayne income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology