01 · the cities
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→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→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,187/mo
$1,264/mo
$77/mo more than Fort Wayne (6%)
Median home price
Median home price
$254k
$208k
$46k less than Fort Wayne
State income tax
State income tax
3.0%
5.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,896/mo
$6,612/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
161 days
177 days
16 more than Fort Wayne
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
39 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
38 days
2 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
46 / 100
47 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
10 routes
1 routes
9 fewer direct routes than Fort Wayne
Metro size
Metro size
458k metro
329k metro
Fort Wayne and Columbus have similar event volume.
the verdict
5
Fort Wayne
categories won
3
Columbus
categories won
Fort Wayne wins on money and lifestyle. Columbus has the edge on weather.
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