Chula Vista CA 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)

Chula Vista, CA

California · Population: 8,933

  • Median HH Income$104,238
  • Median Home Price$849,245
  • Unemployment2.2%
  • Bachelor's+26.9%

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
Chula Vista
8,933
Fort Wayne
266,235
Fort Wayne +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Chula Vista
N/A
Fort Wayne
N/A
Median Age
Chula Vista
42.9
Fort Wayne
35.0
Fort Wayne +
Foreign Born
Chula Vista
20.0%
Chula Vista +
Fort Wayne
9.0%
White
Chula Vista
65.7%
Fort Wayne
66.4%
Fort Wayne +
Black
Chula Vista
0.7%
Fort Wayne
14.6%
Fort Wayne +
Asian
Chula Vista
0.7%
Fort Wayne
5.8%
Fort Wayne +
Hispanic
Chula Vista
36.5%
Chula Vista +
Fort Wayne
10.5%
Spanish at Home
Chula Vista
N/A
Fort Wayne
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Chula Vista
$104,238
Chula Vista +
Fort Wayne
$60,293
Per Capita Income
Chula Vista
$49,562
Chula Vista +
Fort Wayne
$32,884
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Chula Vista
$77,230
Chula Vista +
Fort Wayne
$58,697
Unemployment Rate
Chula Vista
2.2%
Chula Vista +
Fort Wayne
5.5%
Poverty Rate
Chula Vista
4.5%
Chula Vista +
Fort Wayne
15.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
Chula Vista
26.9%
Fort Wayne
28.5%
Fort Wayne +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Chula Vista
$849,245
Fort Wayne
$245,993
Fort Wayne +
Homeownership Rate
Chula Vista
71.4%
Chula Vista +
Fort Wayne
62.2%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Chula Vista
503
Fort Wayne
370
Fort Wayne +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Chula Vista
2388
Fort Wayne
1719
Fort Wayne +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
26.6%
Chula Vista +
Fort Wayne
40.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
11.4%
Chula Vista +
Fort Wayne
13.8%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Chula Vista
16.0%
Chula Vista +
Fort Wayne
18.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
12.4%
Fort Wayne
10.6%
Fort Wayne +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
15.7%
Chula Vista +
Fort Wayne
16.7%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
9.6%
Chula Vista +
Fort Wayne
15.8%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Chula Vista
63.5°F
Fort Wayne
50.5°F
Fort Wayne +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Chula Vista
9.8 in
Chula Vista +
Fort Wayne
38.3 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Chula Vista
26.9 min
Fort Wayne
22.8 min
Fort Wayne +

Which City is Right for You?

Chula Vista leads in median household income at $104,238, 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 503 in Chula Vista. Chula Vista has a lower unemployment rate at 2.2%, and Chula Vista has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Chula Vista scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.6%.

Compare More Cities

About Chula Vista & Fort Wayne