Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$980/mo est.

vs
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 11% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio
$798
$1,159
+45% in New Haven, CT
1 Bedroom
$782
$1,275
+63% in New Haven, CT
2 Bedroom
$984
$1,473
+50% in New Haven, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,636
+49% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$249,000
+47% in New Haven, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$53,771
+11% in Fort Wayne, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$60,060
+26% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
31.9 yr
+3.1 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
62.2%
28.4%
+33.8 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
37.7%
+9.2 pp in New Haven, CT
Avg Commute
21.4 min
21.0 min
+0.4 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
536.3
+74% in New Haven, CT
Property Crime
2,245.4
3,601.6
+60% in New Haven, CT

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
52.2°F
+1.7°F in New Haven, CT
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
47.1 in
+8.8 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in New Haven, CT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.5
24.3
+39% in New Haven, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.52
$23.33
+5% in Fort Wayne, IN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in New Haven, CT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in New Haven, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in New Haven, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in New Haven, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / CT)
7%
6.35%
+0.7 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
6.99%
+4.0 pp in CT

Fort Wayne vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or New Haven?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in New Haven?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or New Haven?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).