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METRO AREA

Fort Wayne Metro

Fort Wayne, IN · 3 counties · 466,258 residents (2025 est.) · 1,360.855 sq mi
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The short version

Fort Wayne has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $71,372. Population has grown 17% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $214,162. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 34%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
455,416
+17%since 2000
from 390,156 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
335 / sq mi
+17%since 2000
from 287 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.8
+7%since 2000
from 34.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:466,258 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
344K375K405K435K466K1990201020202024Fort Wayne
2024455K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,372
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,983 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,750
+77%since 2000
from $21,295 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.4%
+20.8 ptssince 2009
from 26.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.0%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.443
+5%since 2010
from 0.422 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration4.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$214,162
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $87,918 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,001
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $498 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.3%
−2.4 ptssince 2000
from 72.7% in 2000
29.7% rent
Vacancy rate
5.8%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.8%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 19.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.3%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 40.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.0
+47%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
51
RELATED:See current rent listings in Fort Wayne on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.7%(326,656)
Black9.5%(37,247)
Hispanic / Latino3.7%(14,550)
Asian1.2%(4,708)
Other0%
Diversity Score32.8%(127,850)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic72.9%(331,852)
Black9.1%(41,465)
Hispanic / Latino8.2%(37,498)
Asian4.6%(20,955)
Other5.2%(23,646)
Diversity Score56.1%(255,685)
Segregation Score41.2%(187,462)
Diversity Score
56
+71%since 2000
from 33 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
41
−11%since 2020
from 46 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.3%
+8.9 ptssince 2000
from 21.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.7%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 85.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.9%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.1 min
+73%since 2000
from 12.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.3%
−6.9 ptssince 2009
from 85.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.0%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.5%
−4.5 ptssince 2011
from 9.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 67.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.9%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.6%
−24.0 ptssince 2009
from 61.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
6.9%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.2%
−42.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.7%
+2.0 ptssince 2012
from 10.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.0%
−77.8 ptssince 2013
from 85.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.6%
+12.8 ptssince 2017
from 77.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
89.0%
−1.9 ptssince 2016
from 90.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 4.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Fort WayneCENTRAL275,203
What's inside

3 component counties

Allen CountyCENTRAL402,329Whitley County35,046Wells County28,883
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Fort Wayne

Springfield
Pop 464,338
Visalia
Pop 485,146
Lansing
Pop 479,722
Asheville
Pop 422,345
Places similar to Fort Wayne
Head to head

Compare Fort Wayne side by side

FORT WAYNE VS
Springfield
Income$71,306same
Home value$298,800+40%
Population464,338same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT WAYNE VS
Visalia
Income$71,300same
Home value$330,100+54%
Population485,146+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT WAYNE VS
Lansing
Income$72,596+2%
Home value$213,204same
Population479,722+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT WAYNE VS
Asheville
Income$71,812+1%
Home value$374,605+75%
Population422,345−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Fort Wayne, IN?

Fort Wayne, IN has about 455,416 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Fort Wayne, IN earns about $71,372 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fort Wayne, IN expensive?

In Fort Wayne, IN, the median home is worth about $214,162, and the typical rent is about $1,001 a month.

How educated are people in Fort Wayne, IN?

About 30.3% of adults age 25 and over in Fort Wayne, IN hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fort Wayne, IN?

About 12.0% of people in Fort Wayne, IN live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fort Wayne, IN grown since 1990?

Yes, Fort Wayne, IN has grown since 1990. The population has added about 100,981 residents, a change of about 28 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →