For comparison, Fort Wayne is the best place to live because it boasts a better quality of life, friendly locals, and a prosperous economy. Meanwhile, Albuquerque offers a diverse community with an inexpensive cost of living. However, ABQ has a hotter climate and a soaring crime rate.
As one of Indiana’s most extensive metropolitan areas, Fort Wayne provides an enticing blend of culture and intimacy. The city has calm neighborhoods and local events such as the Three Rivers Festival and BuskerFest.
In contrast, Albuquerque boasts a vibrant cultural community, a rich history, stunning scenery, and a reasonable cost of living. It is also known as the American Southwest’s cultural hub because of its distinctive architecture and numerous institutions.
Albuquerque has an old town vibe, whereas Fort Wayne gives the urban feeling. Comparing these two cities is better to look at their pros and cons.
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What are the Pros and Cons of Fort Wayne vs. Albuquerque?
Fort Wayne provides a resilient job market, lower prices, and picturesque lakes but beware of natural disasters. On the other hand, Albuquerque’s crime and the unemployment rate are problematic, yet the city offers an inexpensive living.
Living in Fort Wayne
Pros
- Prices are way lower than ABQ’s
- Abundant work opportunities
- 20-minute drive
- Friendly locals
- Lakes
The cost of living in Fort Wayne is 13% cheaper than the national average, and the city received an 8.6 out of 10 rating from the US News Value Index. For comparison, ABQ’s cost of living is only 4% lower than the national average.
Fort Wayne is also the second-cheapest location to live in the country. The typical family income is $48,000, while the median home value is $110,600, making moving to Fort Wayne a very excellent deal.
While living in Fort Wayne, you will benefit from lower sales and income taxes than the national average. It also has a reasonable property tax rate.
Fort Wayne has a 2.0% unemployment rate, which is somewhat lower than the national average. Compared to Albuquerque’s 5.5% unemployment rate, Fort Wayne undoubtedly offers its residents a more robust job market.
There has been considerable job growth in the area thanks to some significant investments from industries such as BAE Systems and General Motors.
The job market has expanded by 2.7% in the last year. Additionally, it is likely to grow by 38.6% over the next ten years, compared to 33.5% in the United States.
Fort Wayne is a convenient place to commute because 58% of the workforce lives within 10 miles of their workplace. The usual commuting time is 21.1 minutes.
For those who now commute in a coastal metropolis like New York or San Francisco, this typically means gaining hours of their lives back each week. On a daily level, newcomers can deal with significantly less stress.
Those who relocate to Indiana will remark on how pleasant they are. Indiana is among the friendliest states in the country, and its residents take pleasure in their civility.
The willingness of residents to wave and connect with strangers may surprise newcomers. People often feel right at home after only a short length of time.
Over 200 natural glacier-type lakes have natural spring water within a two-hour drive.
In the summer, you’ll most likely spend a few weekends on the lakes, and you’ll be able to participate in all of the lake activities. These are large sports lakes since some of them are enormous.
Fort Wayne also has what is known as “no-wake lakes,” which are more casual and laid-back. These are the places where you may rent a pontoon boat, go on lake tours, and fish, among other things.
Cons
- Natural disasters
- Freezing winters
In addition to flooding, Fort Wayne has a tornado index of 242.94, which is greater than the national average of 136.45. In an emergency, you should have a plan in place with your family, housemates, and loved ones.
Fort Wayne in January, with average highs of 32°F and lows of 17°F, and February, with an average maximum temperature of 36°F and lows of 20°F, are the coldest months of the year.
The annual rainfall averages 38.26 inches, while the annual snowfall averages 34 inches. If you live in Fort Wayne, you should have a good rain jacket and snow boots.
Living in Albuquerque
Pros
- Diverse culture
- Hot air balloon festival
- Walkable distance
- The Rio Grande and the Sandia Mountains
- Inexpensive city
There are over 70 different nationalities represented in New Mexico. When you relocate to Albuquerque, you’ll come across Middle Eastern, Asian, Native American, and other cultures.
It creates a vibrant, gorgeous, and energetic combination in the southwest.
Many natural beauties and intriguing locations to explore are in Albuquerque. Visit the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, embark on an alien quest in Roswell, or explore the spectacular Carlsbad Caverns.
In ABQ, you’ll find national sites, artistic treasures, and charming shops. Above all, don’t miss out on the hot air balloon festival!
The southwest’s culture may take some getting used to if you’re not from the area, but it can be a lot of fun.
If you love walking in a laid-back city and away from the busy streets, ABQ is the perfect town for you. Albuquerque is the 27th most walkable city in the United States, with a walk score of 43.
So, while you’ll almost certainly need a car, you might be able to walk to neighboring services depending on where you reside in Albuquerque.
The Rio Grande, which runs through the city’s core, is a kayaker’s dream, with miles of woodland walking and cycling paths snaking along its banks.
On the other hand, Albuquerque is on the edge of the Sandia Mountains, which makes for an attractive geographical setting. Albuquerque is almost perfectly in the Rio Grande Valley and the Sandia Mountains.
The Sandia Mountains, which border the metro area to the east, offer quick access to outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, and skiing.
Albuquerque is ranked 33rd in the United States in terms of affordability.
Apart from the low cost of living, the average property in Albuquerque sells for around $182,000 on the market. A 900-square-foot apartment would set you back $840 per month to rent.
Moreover, the total cost of living in ABQ and New Mexico is competitive, with 4% less than the national average. The problem at the shop will go unrecognized even if salaries are low.
Cons
- Much higher unemployment rate than Fort Wayne
- Crimes everywhere
Compared to Fort Wayne’s 2.0%, ABQ has a much higher unemployment rate of 5.5% in November 2021.
If you come to New Mexico without a job, you will have difficulty looking for one. The unemployment rate hovers around 6% most years, and it rises when the national economy suffers a setback for whatever reason.
The city doesn’t only face unemployment issues but crimes as well. Due to extreme poverty and few job opportunities, some turn to drugs and lawlessness. These factors contribute to the unresolved crime index of the city.
For the previous few years, ABQ has ranked among the most dangerous cities in the United States.
Albuquerque or Fort Wayne – Which is cheaper?
Living in Albuquerque is 15.5% more expensive than in Fort Wayne. In Fort Wayne, housing, groceries, health, food, and transportation prices are lower than in Albuquerque.
| Living expenses | Albuquerque | Fort Wayne |
| Housing | 88.0% | 58.4% |
| Food & Groceries | 96.0% | 91.4% |
| Health | 81.1% | 79.7% |
| Utilities | 97.2% | 90.7% |
| Transportation | 89.4% | 81.5% |
Data is 100 = US National Average
> 100 means more expensive than the national average
< 100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing
The housing prices in Albuquerque are 50.7% more than in Fort Wayne. The median monthly rent in Fort Wayne is $758.73, with a median home price of $242,206.
At the same time, ABQ has a higher median home price range of $332,426 and a median rent of $1,041 per month.
Food & Groceries
Fort Wayne’s food and grocery prices are lower than in Albuquerque. One example is a 1.5 liter bottled water in Fort Wayne, which is only $0.97, compared to $1.90 in Albuquerque.
Health
Healthcare costs are 1.8% more in ABQ than in Fort Wayne. In Fort Wayne, an optometrist’s appointment only costs $92.95, while a dental visit’s fee is only $85.22.
Meanwhile, an optometrist’s appointment in ABQ would cost around $101.98, while a dentist visit would be $93.49.
Utilities
The utility costs in ABQ are higher than in Fort Wayne. The monthly internet bill in Fort Wayne costs $49.33 compared to ABQ’s $80.46.
Transportation
Fort Wayne’s transportation fees are cheaper. A gallon of gas costs $2.41 in Fort Wayne and $2.58 in ABQ.
Is Albuquerque bigger than Fort Wayne?
Albuquerque is 1.7 times bigger than Fort Wayne in terms of area size. In addition, Albuquerque is more densely populated. On the other hand, Fort Wayne has a far better economy than Albuquerque, with more job prospects for its citizens.
Fort Wayne has a 154.7 mi² area size and, as of 2022, has a less dense population of 343,000. Meanwhile, Albuquerque has an area size of 188.9 mi², which is 1.7 times bigger than Fort Wayne’s. ABQ also has a denser population of 942,000 as of 2022.
Fort Wayne has a more bustling economy than Albuquerque’s in terms of economy. Fort Wayne’s unemployment rate is only 2.0%, making it lesser than the national average and Albuquerque’s 5.5%.
Fort Wayne provides higher chances of career opportunities to its citizens than Albuquerque.
Therefore, Albuquerque is bigger than Fort Wayne in area size and population. However, Fort Wayne has a much better and more prominent economy than Albuquerque.
Is Fort Wayne safer than Albuquerque?
Fort Wayne is 1.95 times safer than Albuquerque, with a 57.01 safety scale. Fort Wayne has a crime index of only 42.99, while Albuquerque has 1.6 times higher crime index of 70.76. As a result, Fort Wayne is a much safer city than Albuquerque.
Albuquerque’s crime count has been increasing in the past three years. Albuquerque has a crime index of 70.76, whereas Fort Wayne only has 42.99.
Fort Wayne has a safety scale of 57.01, 1.95 times safer than Albuquerque’s safety scale of only 29.24.
In Fort Wayne, the chances of becoming a victim of violent crime are one-in-235. In ABQ, however, it is one-in-75.
In Albuquerque, the likelihood of becoming a victim of property crime is one in every twenty. In Fort Wayne, though, it is just one in every 43.
Thus, Fort Wayne is 1.95 times way safer than Albuquerque.
Is Albuquerque hotter than Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne has an annual average high temperature of 84°F with shorter sunny days of 182. In comparison, Albuquerque has longer sunny days of 280 with an average yearly high temperature of 93°F. Albuquerque is, hence, hotter than Fort Wayne.
The summer seasons in Fort Wayne are hot; winters are cold, snowy, and windy; and the weather is partly overcast all year. The temperature ranges typically from 19°F to 84°F throughout the year, with temperatures seldom falling below 1°F or rising over 91°F.
Summers in Albuquerque are hot and dry, while winters are short, extremely cold, and snowy, and the weather is typically clear all year.
Throughout the year, the temperature in ABQ usually fluctuates from 27°F to 93°F, with temperatures seldom dropping below 18°F or reaching over 99°F.
The USA has an average yearly sunny day of 205. For comparison, Fort Wayne only has 182 sunny days, while ABQ has 280. Therefore, Fort Wayne has shorter sunny days than the national average, whereas ABQ has longer annual sunny days.
Hence, Albuquerque is hotter than Fort Wayne.
Is Albuquerque better than Fort Wayne?
Albuquerque is perfect for you if you prefer to reside in an inexpensive city with a diverse culture and walkable distance. However, Fort Wayne is better because it offers much lower prices, a cooler climate, and is safer than Albuquerque.
Compared to Fort Wayne, natural disasters do not often happen in ABQ. Native American and Hispanic cultures are also quite crucial in the city. Besides this, Albuquerque is walkable, and the cost of living is also inexpensive.
However, it is still prudent to evaluate Albuquerque’s safety and crime statistics before relocating. You might want to consider residing in Nob Hill and staying away from locations where crimes are known to occur.
In contrast, Fort Wayne offers a lot more pros than Albuquerque. The city has a cooler climate, lower prices, and abundant job opportunities. Moreover, Fort Wayne has a safer environment than Albuquerque.
Therefore, Fort Wayne is better than Albuquerque, considering the economy, safety, and cost of living.
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