Chandler AZ vs Fort Wayne IN — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Chandler, AZ

Arizona · Population: 278,123

  • Median HH Income$103,691
  • Median Home Price$524,013
  • Unemployment3.6%
  • Bachelor's+46.8%

Fort Wayne, IN

Indiana · Population: 266,235

  • Median HH Income$60,293
  • Median Home Price$245,993
  • Unemployment5.5%
  • Bachelor's+28.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Chandler
278,123
Chandler +
Fort Wayne
266,235
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Chandler
N/A
Fort Wayne
N/A
Median Age
Chandler
37.4
Fort Wayne
35.0
Fort Wayne +
Foreign Born
Chandler
15.4%
Chandler +
Fort Wayne
9.0%
White
Chandler
62.6%
Fort Wayne
66.4%
Fort Wayne +
Black
Chandler
5.2%
Fort Wayne
14.6%
Fort Wayne +
Asian
Chandler
11.4%
Chandler +
Fort Wayne
5.8%
Hispanic
Chandler
21.4%
Chandler +
Fort Wayne
10.5%
Spanish at Home
Chandler
N/A
Fort Wayne
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Chandler
$103,691
Chandler +
Fort Wayne
$60,293
Per Capita Income
Chandler
$51,746
Chandler +
Fort Wayne
$32,884
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Chandler
$59,120
Chandler +
Fort Wayne
$58,697
Unemployment Rate
Chandler
3.6%
Chandler +
Fort Wayne
5.5%
Poverty Rate
Chandler
7.7%
Chandler +
Fort Wayne
15.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
Chandler
46.8%
Chandler +
Fort Wayne
28.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Chandler
$524,013
Fort Wayne
$245,993
Fort Wayne +
Homeownership Rate
Chandler
65.6%
Chandler +
Fort Wayne
62.2%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Chandler
450
Fort Wayne
370
Fort Wayne +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Chandler
2150
Fort Wayne
1719
Fort Wayne +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Chandler
28.2%
Chandler +
Fort Wayne
40.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Chandler
9.1%
Chandler +
Fort Wayne
13.8%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Chandler
14.1%
Chandler +
Fort Wayne
18.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Chandler
9.7%
Chandler +
Fort Wayne
10.6%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Chandler
16.7%
Fort Wayne
16.7%
Tie
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Chandler
9.4%
Chandler +
Fort Wayne
15.8%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Chandler
N/A
Fort Wayne
50.5°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Chandler
N/A
Fort Wayne
38.3 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Chandler
7.1 µg/m³
Chandler +
Fort Wayne
10.1 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Chandler
75.0%
Chandler +
Fort Wayne
55.0%

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Chandler
26.1 min
Fort Wayne
22.8 min
Fort Wayne +

Which City is Right for You?

Chandler leads in median household income at $103,691, while fort Wayne offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $245,993. On public safety, Fort Wayne is safer with a violent crime rate of 370 per 100,000 residents, compared to 450 in Chandler. Chandler has a lower unemployment rate at 3.6%, and Chandler has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Chandler scores better with a lower obesity rate of 28.2%.

Compare More Cities

About Chandler & Fort Wayne