How much does it cost to rent in Fort Wayne, IN?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Fort Wayne, IN is $1,281. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Fort Wayne cheaper than other Indiana cities?

Fort Wayne falls in the middle range for Indiana, ranking #41 out of 65 cities at $1,281/mo.

When was Fort Wayne rent data last updated?

Fort Wayne rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · IN

Fort Wayne

Name: Average Rent Prices in Fort Wayne, IN
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 268,589·41st most expensive in Indiana·Fort Wayne rents are up 12.8% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,281/mo

Year-over-Year

+12.8%

Month-over-Month

+1.5%

vs US Median

-$684

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Fort Wayne · $1,281

More affordable than 89% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

47/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Fort Wayne's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$1,281/mo

Expected by trend

$1,259/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Fort Wayne's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$981

1 BR

$1,029

2 BR

$1,246

3 BR

$1,570

4 BR+

$1,696

Research median

$1,246/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$15,372/yr

At $1,281/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 12.8% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+12.8% YoY, +1.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Fort Wayne, IN is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 29% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

268,589

Median income

$61,422

Median age

Renters

38.1%

Age distribution

24.3%

25.7%

23.7%

15.2%

Under 1824.3%

18–3425.7%

35–5423.7%

55–6411%

65+15.2%

Gender

49%

51%

Male49%

Female51%

Race & ethnicity

64.9%

14.1%

White64.9%

Black14.1%

Hispanic10.6%

Asian6.1%

Other4.2%

Education (25+)

28.9%

31.2%

29%

No HS diploma10.9%

HS diploma28.9%

Some college31.2%

Bachelor's+29%

Housing tenure

61.9%

38.1%

Owner61.9%

Renter38.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Fort Wayne, IN has changed in 5 years

Rent

$850 → $1,281

up 50.7%

Income

$53,978 → $61,422

up 13.8%

Population

262,676 → 268,589

up 2.3%

Renter share

37.5% → 38.1%

+0.6 pts

Bachelor's+

28% → 29%

+1.0 pts

Compared with 2021, rent in Fort Wayne, IN has climbed by $431 per month, settling near $1,281 after starting the period at $850. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $53,978 in 2021 to $61,422 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 36.9 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 262,676 to 268,589 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.3% change. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Fort Wayne, IN market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Fort Wayne

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View Fort Wayne rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Fort Wayne on your salary?

At $1,281/mo, how Fort Wayne rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $86,922/yr · Rent = 17.7% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $61,714/yr · Rent = 24.9% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $71,088/yr · Rent = 21.6% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $127,061/yr · Rent = 12.1% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $162,352/yr · Rent = 9.5% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $57,785/yr · Rent = 26.6% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $52,173/yr · Rent = 29.5% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $64,308/yr · Rent = 23.9% income

affordable

By apartment size

Fort Wayne rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Fort Wayne. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Fort Wayne

About renting in Fort Wayne, IN

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Fort Wayne is $1,281/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $981/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,246/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,029/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,570/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($61,422/yr), Fort Wayne ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 12.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Fort Wayne an affordable city for renters?

Fort Wayne is considered affordable for renters. At $1,281/mo, rent takes approximately 25% of the local median household income ($61,422/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Fort Wayne falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Fort Wayne?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $51,000/year (~$25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,281/mo in Fort Wayne. The local median household income is $61,422/yr, meaning the typical Fort Wayne household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Fort Wayne?

Rent in Fort Wayne has increased 12.8% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Fort Wayne neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Fort Wayne are 46805 ($973/mo), 46806 ($1,006/mo), and 46816 ($1,058/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Fort Wayne is $1,281/mo.

How does Fort Wayne rent compare to other cities in Indiana?

Fort Wayne is middle-of-the-pack for Indiana for rent, ranking #41 out of 65 tracked cities at $1,281/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Fort Wayne?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Fort Wayne ($1,281/mo): Marion ($913/mo), Goshen ($1,029/mo), Columbia City ($1,035/mo).

What percentage of Fort Wayne residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 38.1% of Fort Wayne households are renters, while 61.9% are owner-occupied. Fort Wayne leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Fort Wayne rent compare to the national average?

Fort Wayne's median rent of $1,281/mo is $684 (35%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Indiana, it ranks #41 out of 65 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

25%

AFFORDABLE

At $1,281/mo, rent takes ~25% of Fort Wayne's median household income ($61,422/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Fort Wayne 25%Benchmark 30%

State income tax3.05%

Run the Fort Wayne affordability calculator →

Nearby cities