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CITY

Fort Wayne

Indiana · 275,203 residents (2025 est.) · 111 sq mi
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Part of the Fort Wayne metro area
The short version

With 268,589 people, Fort Wayne is a city in Indiana. Growth has run 31% since 2000, or 62,862 more people. The typical home is worth $188,900, having more than doubled since 2000. This skews young, with a median age of 35.0. There are 2,428 people per square mile. About 29% of adults have finished a four-year degree.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 42%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
268,589
+31%since 2000
from 205,727 in 2000
275,203 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,428 / sq mi
+6%since 2009
from 2,283 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
35.0
+7%since 2000
from 32.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
111 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
164K192K221K249K278K19902000201020202024Fort Wayne
2024269K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.9%(18,621)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.4%(17,119)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.9%(18,571)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.8%(18,152)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 247.6%(20,322)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3415.5%(41,635)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.7%(34,137)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411%(29,611)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411%(29,482)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 749.1%(24,436)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.3%(11,525)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.9%(4,978)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$61,422
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,518 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,812
+83%since 2000
from $18,517 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
40.4%
+17.9 ptssince 2009
from 22.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.0%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 12.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.444
+3%since 2010
from 0.433 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services6%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical5.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade5.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration4.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$188,900
+42%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $73,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$999
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $490 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
61.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 61.6% in 2000
38.1% rent
Vacancy rate
6.5%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.38 people
−1%since 2009
from 2.41 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
16.3%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 19.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.1%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 40.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+36%since 2009
from 2.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
49
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic73.1%(150,368)
Black17.2%(35,391)
Hispanic / Latino5.8%(11,884)
Asian1.5%(3,156)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic63.2%(169,868)
Black14%(37,558)
Hispanic / Latino10.6%(28,508)
Asian6.1%(16,331)
Other6.1%(16,324)
Diversity Score
70
+27%since 2009
from 55 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican7.3%(19,656)
Central American1.6%(4,241)
Guatemalan1.1%(2,871)
Puerto Rican0.7%(1,917)
South American0.4%(1,111)
Salvadoran0.3%(827)
Colombian0.2%(529)
Honduran0.1%(264)
Spaniard0.1%(258)
Venezuelan0.1%(244)
Panamanian0.1%(224)
Cuban0.1%(197)
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data
Ecuadorian0.1%(163)
Peruvian0%(95)
Argentine0%(48)
Bolivian0%(18)
Chilean0%(14)
Asian origin
Burmese3.3%(8,938)
Asian Indian0.7%(1,867)
Filipino0.4%(1,205)
Vietnamese0.4%(962)
Chinese0.3%(714)
Thai0.1%(356)
Korean0.1%(286)
Kazakh0.1%(270)
Laotian0.1%(246)
Malaysian0.1%(166)
Pakistani0.1%(159)
Cambodian0%(56)
+ 6 more asian origin groups with data
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(34)
Ancestry
German22.4%(60,033)
English9.2%(24,639)
Irish9%(24,244)
American4.8%(12,799)
French2.2%(5,899)
Italian2.1%(5,684)
Scottish2%(5,267)
Polish1.9%(5,221)
Swedish1.1%(2,994)
Dutch1%(2,761)
Swiss0.8%(2,177)
+ 47 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.6%(1,566)
Norwegian0.5%(1,373)
Welsh0.5%(1,235)
Hungarian0.5%(1,228)
Arab0.5%(1,227)
British0.3%(791)
Greek0.2%(642)
West Indian0.2%(607)
Russian0.2%(598)
Croatian0.2%(577)
Danish0.2%(528)
Austrian0.2%(452)
Czech0.2%(426)
Lebanese0.1%(385)
Syrian0.1%(358)
Belgian0.1%(355)
Ukrainian0.1%(348)
Jamaican0.1%(324)
Finnish0.1%(290)
Canadian0.1%(259)
Macedonian0.1%(238)
Slovak0.1%(230)
Romanian0.1%(186)
Kenyan0.1%(178)
Nigerian0.1%(172)
Lithuanian0.1%(161)
Portuguese0.1%(152)
Palestinian0.1%(149)
Ethiopian0.1%(147)
Moroccan0%(129)
Haitian0%(124)
Brazilian0%(121)
Slovene0%(99)
Jordanian0%(52)
Iranian0%(49)
Latvian0%(46)
Israeli0%(43)
Somali0%(34)
Ghanaian0%(30)
Iraqi0%(29)
Armenian0%(15)
Turkish0%(11)
Serbian0%(7)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.0%
+9.6 ptssince 2000
from 19.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.1%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 83.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.2%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 6.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.5 min
+76%since 2000
from 12.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.8%
−8.6 ptssince 2009
from 85.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.5%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.0%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.6%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 9.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2011
from 66.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
75.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 75.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
10.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.2%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 32.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
Female
51.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
Foreign born
9.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.9%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.9%
+2.7 ptssince 2012
from 11.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.4%
−6.9 ptssince 2013
from 16.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.6%
+13.2 ptssince 2017
from 77.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
94.7%
+2.8 ptssince 2020
from 91.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
84.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2020
from 83.6% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
86.6%
−1.6 ptssince 2016
from 88.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2016
from 6.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married40.5%(42,026)
Married44.9%(46,620)
Widowed2.9%(3,048)
Divorced11.7%(12,141)
Women 15+
Never married35.2%(38,909)
Married42.5%(46,943)
Widowed8.5%(9,407)
Divorced13.7%(15,184)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
9.4%
−6.9 ptssince 2013
from 16.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
52.1%
−3.3 ptssince 2020
from 55.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
10.7%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 10.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
16.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 16.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
25.1%
+2.4 ptssince 2020
from 22.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 2.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
61.3%
−3.6 ptssince 2020
from 64.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
39.5%
+2.6 ptssince 2020
from 36.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)24.4%(2,903)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)22.9%(2,729)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era30.9%(3,676)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War6.2%(735)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.9%(223)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 11,915 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Explore

Neighborhoods in Fort Wayne

BloomingdaleNorthsideWest CentralNeighborhoods in Fort Wayne
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Compare Fort Wayne to nearby cities

FORT WAYNE VS
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Income$70,970+16%
Home value$166,900−12%
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FORT WAYNE VS
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Home value$298,200+58%
Population11,600−96%
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FORT WAYNE VS
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Income$68,089+11%
Home value$189,100same
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FORT WAYNE VS
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Home value$190,800+1%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Fort Wayne, Indiana?

Fort Wayne, Indiana has about 268,589 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Fort Wayne, Indiana?

The typical household in Fort Wayne, Indiana earns about $61,422 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fort Wayne, Indiana expensive?

In Fort Wayne, Indiana, the median home is worth about $188,900, and the typical rent is about $999 a month.

How educated are people in Fort Wayne, Indiana?

About 29.0% of adults age 25 and over in Fort Wayne, Indiana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fort Wayne, Indiana?

About 16.0% of people in Fort Wayne, Indiana live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fort Wayne, Indiana grown since 1990?

Yes, Fort Wayne, Indiana has grown since 1990. The population has added about 95,517 residents, a change of about 55 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →