Uprootmap
Chicago vs Fort Wayne
Chicago and Fort Wayne
Photo: Momoneymoproblemz / Wikimedia, Public domain
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Fort Wayne are above the US rate in this release, 10.3 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Chicago to Fort Wayne
In 2022-2023, 280 households filed a move from Chicago to Fort Wayne (about 477 people, average adjusted gross income $58,936). 277 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,782 in Chicago and $970 in Fort Wayne. Chicago has a state tax on wages. Fort Wayne has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Fort Wayne is 91% of the national level for the same work, against 105% in Chicago.
Fort Wayne averages 187 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 25°F. Chicago is 189 sunny days, 84°F in July, 20°F in January. Commutes average 22 minutes in Fort Wayne and 33 in Chicago.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 280 households moved Chicago → Fort Wayne (about 477 people, average AGI $58,936). 277 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Chicago and Fort Wayne changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 175 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,700–$3,200
- Container or pod
- $1,150–$2,150
- Rent a truck
- $450–$850
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Dig into Fort Wayne
Questions
Is Fort Wayne cheaper than Chicago after tax and rent?
Yes. Fort Wayne leaves about $754 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,782 in Chicago and $970 in Fort Wayne.
Does Fort Wayne have state income tax?
Fort Wayne is in Indiana, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.50%.
Did people actually move from Chicago to Fort Wayne?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.