Fort Wayne receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Lexington-Fayette
Fort Wayne
Opportunity
56 · Top 48%
vs78 · Top 13%
Growth
73 · Top 15%
vs71 · Top 17%
Climate
74 · Top 21%
vs62 · Bottom 35%
Physical resilience
75 · Top 22%
vs79 · Top 17%
Housing affordability
88 · Bottom 31%
vs100 · Top 28%
Access
61 · Bottom 22%
vs57 · Bottom 19%
Economic stability
72 · Top 23%
vs80 · Top 14%
Measured values
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette | Fort Wayne | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 522,560 | 455,416 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $71,966 | $71,213 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $42,479 | $37,750 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 355/sq mi | 335/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $281,300 | $214,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,138 | $1,003 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.3% | 70.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 3.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.9% | 0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.0% | 30.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 12.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,436 | 1,815 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.7 | 4.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 10.7% | 11.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 49.8" | 39.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 67 mi | 75 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.6 min | 23.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.7 | 36.8 | 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
Lexington-Fayette
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Fort Wayne
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Lexington-Fayette
71
Your Score
71
Area Score
Fort Wayne
75
Your Score
77
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Lexington-Fayette, KY Metro Area · Fort Wayne, IN Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology