Fort Wayne is a city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Allen County, United States. Many people consider Fort Wayne the cultural and economic center of northeastern Indiana. People that do end up moving here enjoy the lower costs of living, shorter commutes, and how community-driven the city is. So, if you’re looking for rooms to rent in Fort Wayne, welcome! Here’s our guide to everything you need to know before you move to Fort Wayne.
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Getting to know Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne is in the East North Central region of the Midwestern United States, in northeastern Indiana, 18 miles west of Ohio and 50 miles south of Michigan. During the 19th century, Fort Wayne was dominated by Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, and Italianate architecture. Examples of Greek Revival architecture remain in the city, with one being the Richardville House (1827), a national historical landmark.
When it comes to the climate, Fort Wayne lies in the humid continental climate zone and experiences four distinct seasons. Typically, summers are hot, humid, and wet. Winters are generally cold with moderate snowfall. Somewhere within those predictable seasons, however, more severe weather isn’t uncommon. This is particularly true during the spring and summer months. The city experiences an average of 39 thunderstorm days and about 10 severe weather days annually.
Additionally, Fort Wayne is sometimes referred to as the “City of Churches”. This is an unofficial moniker dating to the late-19th century when the city was the regional hub of Catholic, Lutheran, and Episcopal faiths. Today, there are 360 churches in the city.
Finding Rooms for rent in Fort Wayne
Those moving to Indiana will often comment on how friendly Midwesterners are. Indiana is one of the friendliest states in America, and culturally the locals pride themselves on politeness. Another plus to living in Fort Wayne is the decreased tax rate. The city is known for its lower sales tax and lower income tax than the US average. It also features a decently low property tax rate, which can positively impact your cost of living overall.
Read on for the facts about the top neighborhoods in the city, for when you’re ready to find rooms for rent in Fort Wayne!
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Top neighborhoods in Fort Wayne
- Cherry Hill With a population slightly above 1000, Cherry Hill is not only a classy neighborhood, but it’s also one of the safest neighborhoods in Fort Wayne. The main attraction here is Cherry Hill Golf Club, where residents have plenty of events and recreational activities to keep them busy. The neighborhood consistently rates highly for its relatively expensive property and rental rates — which also come with the security and sense of community one might seek in their neighborhood.
- Arlington Park Arlington Park is another high-end neighborhood in Fort Wayne, though both income and home value are slightly less than in Cherry Hill. In terms of safety, Arlington Park is one of the safest neighborhoods in Fort Wayne and also boasts a high graduation rate. Conveniences include nearby supermarkets, coffee shops and restaurants, and high-quality schools.
- Northside One of the largest neighborhoods in the city, Northside boasts about 6500 residents, with high graduation rates and a low cost of living. Northside offers easy access to the Allen County Public Library, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Snickerz Comedy Club, and many more amenities.
Average rent in Fort Wayne
According to Salary.com, Fort Wayne’s cost of living is 8 percent lower than the national average, and the city has scored an 8.6 out of 10 on the US News Value Index. It’s also ranked second on the list of cheapest places to live, according to US News. So if you’re ready to find rooms for rent in Fort Wayne, here are the average rent prices in Fort Wayne:
| Rooms For Rent In Fort Wayne | Average Rent |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment For Rent in Fort Wayne | $569 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartment For Rent in Fort Wayne | $1,282 |
University life in Fort Wayne
There are seven four-year colleges within the Fort Wayne city limits and 16 four-year colleges within a 50-mile radius. If you’re looking for a large school, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne enrols the most students. In terms of cost, Wright State University Lake Campus offers the lowest in-state tuition for four-year colleges in the Fort Wayne area.
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The University of Saint Francis Robert Goldstine Performing Arts Center, located on its Downtown Campus, contains a 2,086-seat auditorium. This is a major spot for most of the city’s performing arts.
Here are the top universities in Fort Wayne:
- Purdue University Fort Wayne
- Indiana University of Technology
- Indiana Wesleyan University
- Huntington University
- University of St. Francis Fort Wayne
How transit-friendly is Fort Wayne?
Walkability
Fort Wayne (with its 253, 691 residents) has an average Walk Score of 30, meaning that the city is only somewhat walkable. Fort Wayne has minimal public transportation and does not have many bike lanes. However, it is important to note that there are certain parts of the city that are fairly walkable. According to Walk Score, the most walkable Fort Wayne neighborhoods are Poplar, Williams Park, and Hoagland Masterson.
Roads and traffic
Fort Wayne is served by a single Interstate, (Interstate 69), along with an auxiliary beltway (Interstate 469). Five Indiana State Roads also meet in the city, including State Road 1, State Road 3, State Road 14, State Road 37, and State Road 930. Airport Expressway, a four-lane divided highway, linking Fort Wayne International Airport directly to I-69.
However, unlike most cities comparable to its size, Fort Wayne does not have an urban freeway system.
Airports
Fort Wayne includes two municipal airports, both managed by the Fort Wayne–Allen County Airport Authority. Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA) is the city’s primary commercial airport, with five airlines offering direct service to 13 domestic connections. The airport is Indiana’s second busiest, with over 350,000 passenger enplanements in 2015. Fort Wayne International is also home to the 122d Fighter Wing’s Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station.
Taxis
Taxis are readily available, though a relatively pricier mode of public transportation. Most of the services listed below have apps that can help you, but they’re also available almost instantly with a phone call.
- 3 Rivers Taxi
- Yellow Taxi Cab Company (Phone: (260) 422-1010)
- A-1 Taxi
Public transport
Fort Wayne’s mass transit system is managed by the Fort Wayne Public Transportation Corporation (Citilink). It provides 12 bus routes through the cities of Fort Wayne and New Haven via downtown’s Central Station.
CampusLink, another major public transport provider, debuted in 2009 as a free shuttle service for students, faculty, and general public traveling between Ivy Tech’s Coliseum and North campuses. It also included IPFW and its student housing on the Waterfield Campus, and shopping and residential areas.
Then, MedLink debuted in 2013 connecting Parkview Regional Medical Center with Parkview Health’s Randallia campus. It’s also interesting to note that, despite annual ridership of 2.2 million, less than 1% of residents commute by public transportation.
Additionally, Fort Wayne is served by two intercity bus providers: Greyhound Lines (Indianapolis—Toledo—Detroit) and Lakefront Lines (Chicago—Columbus—Akron).
Cycling
In 2016, the city introduced its first bike-sharing program, including five stations and 25 bicycles. For bike enthusiasts in Fort Wayne, this cycling program included biking lanes, trails, biking boxes, and sharrows. There are more than 120 miles of multi-use trails overall. So it’s safe to say that Fort Wayne’s growing trail truly offers a whole plethora of choices for cyclists — all along rivers and green spaces!
Healthcare in Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne is served by ten medical centers belonging to one of two regional healthcare providers in the city. Notably the Parkview Health System and Lutheran Health Network.
The major hospitals in Fort Wayne include:
- Dupont Hospital
- Lutheran Hospital of Indiana
- Parkview Regional Medical Center
- Parkview Hospital Randallia
- St. Joseph Hospital.
Over 1,600 patient beds are available throughout the city’s healthcare system. And, as of 2017, both healthcare systems were the city’s first and second-largest employers, respectively, and contribute to a total healthcare workforce in Allen County of 34,000.
Sports in Fort Wayne
Firstly, Fort Wayne is home to three minor league sports franchises: the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets, the Midwest League’s Fort Wayne TinCaps, and the NBA G League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants. The latter is owned and operated by their parent club, the Indiana Pacers.
Fort Wayne also hosts the Fort Wayne Derby Girls of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association Division 2. These teams compete at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. The city has also been home to other professional sports franchises, including the National Basketball Association’s Fort Wayne Pistons (which moved to Detroit in 1957).
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