Head to head
Fort Wayne, IN vs Toledo, OH
Toledo is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $86/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $2,000 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Fort Wayne is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Fort Wayne80 | Toledo60 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $3,570 | $3,484 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $8,210 | $8,754 |
| Salary for comfort | $65,000/yr | $63,000/yr |
| Typical rent | $1,113 | $1,076 |
| Median home value | $169,700 | $107,000 |
| Median household income | $60,293 | $47,532 |
| Unemployment | 3.5% | 4.9% |
| Housing score | 92 | 79 |
| Jobs score | 86 | 34 |
| Safety score | 78 | 27 |
| Climate score | 81 | 82 |
| Amenities score | 33 | 41 |
| Population | 266.2K | 268.5K |
| Summer high / winter low | 84° / 17° | 84° / 19° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Fort Wayne, IN
Toledo, OH