Fort Wayne and Reading receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Fort Wayne
Reading
Opportunity
78 · Top 13%
vs71 · Top 22%
Growth
71 · Top 17%
vs67 · Top 24%
Climate
62 · Bottom 35%
vs69 · Top 42%
Physical resilience
79 · Top 17%
vs86 · Top 8%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 28%
vs97 · Top 39%
Access
57 · Bottom 19%
vs76 · Bottom 49%
Economic stability
80 · Top 14%
vs77 · Top 18%
Measured values
| Metric | Fort Wayne | Reading | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 455,416 | 433,015 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $71,213 | $79,777 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,750 | $39,815 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 335/sq mi | 506/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $214,100 | $257,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,003 | $1,181 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.3% | 71.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.7% | 2.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.2% | 27.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 12.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,815 | 929 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.0 | 2.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 11.6% | 228.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 39.5" | 45.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 75 mi | 47 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 27.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.8 | 39.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Fort Wayne
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Reading
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Fort Wayne
75
Your Score
77
Area Score
Reading
77
Your Score
77
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Fort Wayne, IN Metro Area · Reading, PA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology