Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Evansville compared to Fort Wayne? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Evansville | Metric | Fort Wayne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | Cost of Living Index | 84 | +2.4% |
| $165,000 | Median Home Price | $200,000 | +21.2% |
| $825 | Median Monthly Rent | $850 | +3.0% |
| $48,500 | Median Household Income | $57,600 | +18.8% |
| 1.0% | Property Tax Rate | 0.8% | -17.0% |
| 3.5% | Unemployment Rate | 3.8% | +8.6% |
| 20 min | Average Commute | 20 min | +0.0% |
| 37.5 | Median Age | 35.8 | -4.5% |
| 315,000 | Metro Population | 410,000 | +30.2% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Evansville costs $1,020/month (PITI) compared to $1,208/month in Fort Wayne — a difference of $188/month or $2,256/year. The price-to-income ratio is 3.4x in Evansville versus 3.5x in Fort Wayne, suggesting Evansville is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 4.5 years to save a down payment in Evansville compared to 4.6 years in Fort Wayne.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Evansville | Fort Wayne |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $48,500 | $57,600 |
| State Income Tax | $1,425 | $1,698 |
| Federal Income Tax | $3,691 | $4,783 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $3,710 | $4,406 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $1,650/yr | $1,660/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 7.0% | 7.0% |
| Total Tax Burden | $8,826 (18.2%) | $10,887 (18.9%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $39,674 | $46,713 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $8,826 in Evansville (18.2% effective) versus $10,887 in Fort Wayne (18.9% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $39,674 in Evansville and $46,713 in Fort Wayne. Property taxes add $1,650/year on the median Evansville home versus $1,660/year in Fort Wayne.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $48,500 in Evansville (COL 82) and relocate to Fort Wayne (COL 84), you would need $49,683 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you would need a raise of $1,183 to maintain the same standard of living in Fort Wayne.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Evansville is 20 minutes versus 20 minutes in Fort Wayne, a difference of 0 minutes each way. Evansville's lower unemployment rate of 3.5% versus 3.8% suggests a stronger job market. Evansville skews slightly older with a median age of 37.5 vs 35.8 in Fort Wayne.
Fort Wayne is 2.4% more expensive than Evansville overall. Fort Wayne has a cost of living index of 84 compared to 82 for Evansville (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $200,000 in Fort Wayne vs $165,000 in Evansville.
The median home price in Fort Wayne is $200,000, which is $35,000 more than Evansville's median of $165,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $850/month in Fort Wayne vs $825/month in Evansville, a difference of $25/month or $300/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $48,500 salary in Evansville is equivalent to $49,683 in Fort Wayne. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Evansville's COL index of 82 vs Fort Wayne's 84. Conversely, $57,600 in Fort Wayne equals $56,229 in Evansville.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $8,826 (18.2% effective rate) in Evansville vs $10,887 (18.9% effective rate) in Fort Wayne. Property taxes on the median home are $1,650/year in Evansville (1.0% rate) vs $1,660/year in Fort Wayne (0.8% rate). Sales tax rates are 7.0% in Indiana and 7.0% in Indiana.
Evansville median household income: $48,500/yr. Fort Wayne median household income: $57,600/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $825 in Evansville vs $850 in Fort Wayne. Annualized that is $9,900 vs $10,200.
Evansville offers a lower cost of living (index 82 vs 84), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Fort Wayne typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Evansville and Fort Wayne numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Evansville vs Fort Wayne cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .