Fort Wayne vs Medford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Wayne
Medford
The Verdict
Fort Wayne is 22.6% less expensive than Medford overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Wayne would need approximately $96,951 in Medford to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Fort Wayne has the same purchasing power as $96,951 in Medford.
Conversely, $75,000 in Medford equals $58,019 in Fort Wayne.
Living in Fort Wayne vs Medford
Housing Costs
Fort Wayne's housing index of 57 is lower Medford's 139, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $406,000. The $211,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,716 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Fort Wayne compared to $1,375/mo in Medford, a monthly difference of $425.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Fort Wayne and 108 in Medford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Fort Wayne vs $513/month in Medford. Fort Wayne offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Fort Wayne and 97 in Medford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Fort Wayne vs $388 in Medford. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Fort Wayne and 100 in Medford. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $54,600 in Fort Wayne and $73,200 in Medford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,585 and $69,057 respectively. Medford residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,274/month to housing in Fort Wayne vs $1,708/month in Medford. In Fort Wayne, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In Medford, median rent of $1,375/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 82 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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