01 · the cities
Columbus
Columbus is on the Chattahoochee River, with the longest urban whitewater course in the world (since 2013) running right through downtown for rafting and surfing waves. Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning) is the city's anchor. The Riverwalk stretches for miles. The downtown has come back nicely with restaurants and breweries. Smaller and friendlier than the city's industrial reputation suggests.
full dispatch→Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne sits where three rivers meet (the St. Joseph, the St. Marys, and the Maumee), and the riverfront has been transforming into a real public space. The Children's Zoo is consistently ranked among the country's best. It's the second-largest city in Indiana, with the friendly small-town feel still intact. Cheap, easy, and quietly improving.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,264/mo
$1,187/mo
$77/mo less than Columbus (6%)
Median home price
Median home price
$208k
$254k
$46k more than Columbus
State income tax
State income tax
5.5%
3.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,612/mo
$6,896/mo
Fort Wayne has $284/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
177 days
161 days
16 fewer than Columbus
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
39 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
2 days
38 days
days below 20°F per year
Columbus has 39 more days above 95°F each year than Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne drops below 20°F on 36 more days per year than Columbus.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
47 / 100
46 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
1 routes
10 routes
9 more direct routes than Columbus
Metro size
Metro size
329k metro
458k metro
Columbus and Fort Wayne have similar event volume.
the verdict
3
Columbus
categories won
5
Fort Wayne
categories won
Fort Wayne wins on money and lifestyle. Columbus has the edge on weather.
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