Uprootmap
Fort Wayne vs Columbus
Fort Wayne and Columbus
Photo: Paul Wasneski / Wikimedia, Public domain
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Columbus are above the US rate in this release, 8.6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Fort Wayne to Columbus
In 2022-2023, 60 households filed a move from Fort Wayne to Columbus (about 94 people, average adjusted gross income $54,883). 38 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $970 in Fort Wayne and $1,176 in Columbus. Fort Wayne has a state tax on wages. Columbus has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Columbus is 97% of the national level for the same work, against 91% in Fort Wayne.
Columbus averages 179 sunny days, with July highs around 85°F and January nights around 21°F. Fort Wayne is 187 sunny days, 82°F in July, 25°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Columbus and 22 in Fort Wayne.
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, 60 households moved Fort Wayne → Columbus (about 94 people, average AGI $54,883). 38 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 Fort Wayne and Columbus changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 173 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 Columbus
Questions
Is Columbus cheaper than Fort Wayne after tax and rent?
No. Columbus leaves about $126 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $970 in Fort Wayne and $1,176 in Columbus.
Does Columbus have state income tax?
Columbus is in Ohio, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 2.50%.
Did people actually move from Fort Wayne to Columbus?
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.