📊 Lifestyle Match
Visualizing the tradeoffs between Durham and Fort Wayne
Head-to-Head Analysis
Durham vs Fort Wayne
Detailed breakdown of cost of living, income potential, and lifestyle metrics.
📋 The Details
Line-by-line data comparison.
| Category / Metric | Durham | Fort Wayne |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Overview | ||
| Median Income | $80,064 | $57,138 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4% | 3% |
| Housing Market | ||
| Median Home Price | $415,000 | $225,000 |
| Price per SqFt | $230 | $137 |
| Monthly Rent (1BR) | $1,418 | $895 |
| Housing Cost Index | 94.0 | 62.3 |
| Cost of Living | ||
| Groceries Index | 96.5 | 94.1 |
| Gas Price (Gallon) | $3.40 | $3.40 |
| Safety & Lifestyle | ||
| Violent Crime (per 100k) | 678.0 | 382.1 |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 59% | 30% |
| Air Quality (AQI) | 34 | 35 |
AI Verdict: The Bottom Line
Living in Durham is 7% more expensive than Fort Wayne.
You could earn significantly more in Durham (+40% median income).
Durham has a higher violent crime rate (77% higher).
Analysis based on current data snapshot. Individual results may vary.
Expert Verdict
AI-generated analysis based on current data.
Moving from Durham to Fort Wayne: What You Need to Know
Deciding between Durham and Fort Wayne? This data-driven analysis breaks down the key differences in cost of living, housing, and quality of life to help you make the right choice.
1. Cost of Living Analysis
Fort Wayne is significantly 7.3% cheaper than Durham.
If you move to Fort Wayne, your paycheck will go further. This is primarily driven by differences in housing and taxation.
2. Housing Costs
Housing is the biggest factor here. Fort Wayne offers much more affordable housing options.
The housing cost index in Durham is 94, compared to 62.3 in Fort Wayne.
3. Income Potential
The median household income in Durham is $80,064, while in Fort Wayne it is $57,138.
Workers in Durham typically earn 40.1% more. Be sure to balance this against the cost of living.
4. Safety
Statistically, Fort Wayne has a lower violent crime rate.
The Verdict
Fort Wayne combines affordability with a strong quality of life score. It's an excellent choice for value seekers.
Real move decision
If this comparison is tied to a job offer, do these next
Fort Wayne is the cheaper city, so a smaller headline offer may still work if housing, taxes, and monthly costs improve your real take-home pay.
Decode an offer in Fort Wayne
Use Offer Decoder to test whether moving from Durham to Fort Wayne actually improves your leftover cash after tax, rent, and benefits.
Build your counteroffer
Use the counteroffer guide when the package is close, but city costs or first-year move friction mean you still need more.
Set a walk-away number
Turn the salary gap and cost-of-living difference between Durham and Fort Wayne into a defensible negotiation target.
Follow the relocation workflow
Use the full guide if this comparison is part of a real job move, not just casual browsing.
Planning a Move?
Use our AI-powered calculator to estimate your expenses from Durham to Fort Wayne.