City comparison
Akron, OH vs Fort Wayne, IN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Akron, OH (93.4) and Fort Wayne, IN (92.6, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Akron, OH goes as far as $99,100 in Fort Wayne, IN.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $985 a month in Akron, OH versus $916 in Fort Wayne, IN. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Akron, OH and 14% in Fort Wayne, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $953 a year higher in Fort Wayne, IN than in Akron, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Akron, OH to Fort Wayne, IN ($111,138 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.4% in real buying power.
- Akron, OH: price level 93.4 (cheaper)
- Fort Wayne, IN: price level 92.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Akron, OH | Fort Wayne, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.4 | 92.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,145 in Fort Wayne | $100,862 in Akron |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $985/mo | $916/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $76,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $2,921 (IN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,840 | $47,700 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Akron, OH MSA and Fort Wayne, IN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Akron, OH and Fort Wayne, IN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Akron | Fort Wayne |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 72.3 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 94.3 |
| Utilities | 96.4 | 86.2 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 99.1 |
| Overall | 93.4 | 92.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Akron, OH → Fort Wayne, IN
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$953/yr.
71 Strong offer
Fort Wayne, IN → Akron, OH
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$953/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Akron, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Fort Wayne, IN is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Akron, OH to Fort Wayne, IN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Akron, OH | Fort Wayne, IN | Real change, Akron → Fort Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $61,722 | −3.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $74,678 | −3.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $89,508 | −3.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $106,437 | −3.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $125,776 | −3.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Akron, OH | Fort Wayne, IN | Fort Wayne pay in Akron dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $59,800 | $60,315 (−23.2%) |
| Software Developers | $105,430 | $101,560 | $102,435 (−2.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,540 | $75,250 | $75,899 (−3.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,770 | $79,630 | $80,316 (−0.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.