Evansville vs Fort Wayne
Compare Evansville, IN and Fort Wayne, IN on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $908/mo in Evansville and $922/mo in Fort Wayne, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,070/mo and $1,089/mo. Across the four public-data screens Fort Wayne comes out ahead (240 vs 225 summed points), though Evansville still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 86°F and 86°F respectively. Long-term hazard exposure also separates them: Fort Wayne screens more resilient on the FEMA National Risk Index composite (82 vs 27/100, higher = lower expected annual loss per resident). If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Evansville; if walkable daily life matters more, Evansville screens stronger on the walkability proxy (14 vs 13). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Fort Wayne leads 79 to 70 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Evansville leads 40 to 36 on the daily life screen.
Fort Wayne leads 49 to 38 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Evansville is roughly $56,667 in Fort Wayne using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Evansville | Fort Wayne | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $908/mo | $922/mo | Evansville |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,070/mo | $1,089/mo | Evansville |
| Median home value | $174,000 | $175,000 | Evansville |
| State income tax | 3.0% | 3.0% | Tie |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 23.2 min | Evansville |
| Safety score | 55/100 | 55/100 | Tie |
| School score | 3/10 | 4/10 | Fort Wayne |
| Walkability estimate | 14/100 | 13/100 | Evansville |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 158.0 | 177.3 | Fort Wayne |
| Mountain distance | 4 mi | 138 mi | Evansville |
| Coast distance | 501 mi | 451 mi | Fort Wayne |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 27/100 | 82/100 | Fort Wayne |
| Heat wave risk percentile (NRI) | 82th | 18th | Fort Wayne |
| Ice storm risk percentile (NRI) | 89th | 39th | Fort Wayne |
| Winter weather risk percentile (NRI) | 90th | 49th | Fort Wayne |
What stands out
Evansville stronger signals
- Trail access within 44 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 71 miles
- Mountain access within 4 miles
Evansville tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
Fort Wayne stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 66 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Fort Wayne tradeoffs
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Evansville cheaper than Fort Wayne?
On public benchmarks Evansville is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $908/mo in Evansville vs $922/mo in Fort Wayne; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,070/mo vs $1,089/mo; state income tax is 3.0% vs 3.0%.
Is Evansville or Fort Wayne safer?
Evansville screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 55/100 for Evansville and 55/100 for Fort Wayne (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Evansville or Fort Wayne?
School screens show 3/10 for Evansville vs 4/10 for Fort Wayne, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Evansville and Fort Wayne?
Evansville: summer highs near 86°F, winter lows near 17°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Fort Wayne: 86°F / 15°F, disaster-risk band 1/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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