Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Rutland?

Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Rutland, VT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Rutland?

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 Rutland.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Rutland?

Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Fort Wayne vs Rutland Cost of Living 2026

Fort Wayne

Indiana

$980/mo est.

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Rutland, VT. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rutland, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 9% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN

Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio

$798

$893

+12% in Rutland, VT

1 Bedroom

$782

$856

+9% in Rutland, VT

2 Bedroom

$984

$1,097

+11% in Rutland, VT

3 Bedroom

$1,100

$1,207

+10% in Rutland, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$169,700

$176,400

+4% in Rutland, VT

Income

Median Household Income

$60,293

$55,000

+9% in Fort Wayne, IN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,700

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.0 yr

48.5 yr

+13.5 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

62.2%

52.7%

+9.5 pp in Fort Wayne, IN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.5%

32.2%

+3.7 pp in Rutland, VT

Avg Commute

21.4 min

14.7 min

+6.7 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

308.9

487.8

+58% in Rutland, VT

Property Crime

2,245.4

3,973.3

+77% in Rutland, VT

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

44.6°F

+5.9°F in Fort Wayne, IN

Annual Precipitation

38.3 in

40.5 in

+2.1 in in Rutland, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Rutland, VT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.5

24.4

+40% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.52

$26.07

+6% in Rutland, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Rutland, VT

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Fort Wayne, IN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Rutland, VT

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Rutland, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Rutland, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / VT)

+1.0 pp in IN

Income Tax (top rate)

2.95%

8.75%

+5.8 pp in VT

Fort Wayne vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Rutland?: Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Rutland, VT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Rutland?: 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 Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Rutland?: Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).