Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$980/mo est.

vs
Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $980 in Fort Wayne, IN versus $1,030 in Hattiesburg, MS. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hattiesburg, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS — about 27% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
Hattiesburg, MS

Rent

Studio
$798
$630
+21% in Fort Wayne, IN
1 Bedroom
$782
$841
+8% in Hattiesburg, MS
2 Bedroom
$984
$980
+0% in Fort Wayne, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,195
+9% in Hattiesburg, MS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$153,600
+9% in Fort Wayne, IN

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$44,140
+27% in Fort Wayne, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$37,750
+21% in Fort Wayne, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
28.7 yr
+6.3 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
62.2%
36.5%
+25.7 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
35.0%
+6.5 pp in Hattiesburg, MS
Avg Commute
21.4 min
17.0 min
+4.4 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
221.5
+28% in Fort Wayne, IN
Property Crime
2,245.4
3,475.7
+55% in Hattiesburg, MS

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
50.5°F
66.1°F
+15.6°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
59.2 in
+20.8 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Fort Wayne, IN

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.5
14.9
+15% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.52
$29.04
+18% in Hattiesburg, MS

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Fort Wayne, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Hattiesburg, MS
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Fort Wayne, IN
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Fort Wayne, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — Midwest vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / MS)
7%
7%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
4.00%
+1.0 pp in MS

Fort Wayne vs Hattiesburg — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Hattiesburg?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Hattiesburg, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Hattiesburg?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $34,000 in Hattiesburg.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Hattiesburg?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Hattiesburg under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).