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Fort Wayne, IN

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Fort Wayne, IN

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 56
Population266,235
Foreign Born4.9%
Population Density2,382people per mi²
Median Age35.0 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

74/100

26% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Fort Wayne, Indiana

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $15k$29k
Comfortable $33k$48k
Luxury $104k+$161k+
Elite (Top 5%) $122k+$189k+
Affordability Ratio

124%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean85%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
10
Negative
11

Groceries

6 within 10 miles

0.9mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

0.2mi

Hospital

8 within 20 miles

1.7mi

Airport

Indianapolis International Airport

112.4mi

Post Office

USPS — Clinton Street, Fort

1.1mi

Critical Amenities

Golf15Nearest 2.8 mi
Camping5Nearest 21 mi
Marina1Nearest 7.4 mi
Winery0Nearest 13.5 mi
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range0Nearest 12.4 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
D+
Soft

A below-average socioeconomic profile. Incomes, home values, and educational attainment trail the U.S., with higher poverty and unemployment.

Median HHI
$60k+3.5%
20% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$320k
51% below US avg
College Educated
28.5%
19% below US avg
WFH
8.2%
43% below US avg
Homeownership
62.2%
5% below US avg
Median Home
$170k
40% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C
Moderate

Crime rates similar to the national median for U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
21.4
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−5.7%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+6.8%
Homicide
0.12 / 1k Residents222% above state avg
Robbery
0.50 / 1k Residents120% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
1.64 / 1k Residents7% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr−18.2%
Burglary
1.79 / 1k Residents51% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
15.00 / 1k Residents116% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.70 / 1k Residents32% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+16Solidly Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Fort Wayne, Indiana
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
B-
Fair9.3% of income
Property Rights
B
GoodIJ Grade B
Firearm Rights
A
GreatFPC Grade A
Homeschooling
A+
GreatNo notice required

Energy independence: Importer (35% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
F
ProhibitedIllegal

Homesteading

Growing Season189 days249 frost-free
Annual Rainfall39.5"
Elevation761 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
D+
Vulnerable

Multiple tactical vulnerabilities. Population density, target proximity, or disaster risk are likely compounding. A retreat property and exit planning is required.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
F
Poor0.6 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor2,382/sq mi
Fallout Danger
A+
Great0 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding, Tornado, Strong Wind, Cold Wave, Earthquake
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 192 mi · coast 545 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$97.3M/yrfor the county

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-22T07:25:32.000Z

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