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D

Is Fort Wayne, Indiana Safe?

Population 275,203 · Safer than 17% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Crime in Fort Wayne runs high. The city's D grade puts it below 83% of US cities, with violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,770 per 100K.

Fort Wayne Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricFort WayneIndiana AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate397.3309.2363.8
Property Crime Rate2255.72091.51,832.3
Murder Rate9.0--5.7
Assault Rate280.0--268.2
Theft Rate1770.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate425.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD

265.3 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

397/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2256/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Fort Wayne

Violent crime in Fort Wayne is close to the national average. The rate of 397.3 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2255.7 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,770 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Fort Wayne Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder9
01.6x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault280
01.0x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery72
01.1x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary401
01.5x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,770
01.3x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft425
01.3x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Fort Wayne Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Fort Wayne
397.3
State
309.2
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Fort Wayne
2255.7
State
2091.5
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Wayne Safety

Is Fort Wayne safe?
Not especially. Fort Wayne earns a D with a crime rate of 265.3 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Fort Wayne?
265.3 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 397.3 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2255.7 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Fort Wayne safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Fort Wayne's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,770 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Fort Wayne?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Fort Wayne generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Fort Wayne police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Fort Wayne?
Crime rates have held steady in Fort Wayne, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D grade.
How does Fort Wayne compare to other cities in Indiana?
Below average for the state. Fort Wayne ranks behind about 83% of Indiana cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Fort Wayne to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Fort Wayne?
Bad. A D grade and 265.3 per-thousand rate put Fort Wayne below 83% of US cities. Violent crime at 397 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Fort Wayne?
397.3 per 100,000, which is 9% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (280), robbery (72), and murder (9.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Indiana

Similar-sized communities in Indiana. Compare crime rates across the state.

D+
See crime rates in Evansville116,176 pop · Grade D+
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See crime rates in Fishers104,812 pop · Grade D
C-
See crime rates in South Bend103,201 pop · Grade C-
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See crime rates in Bloomington83,307 pop · Grade C
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See crime rates in Noblesville76,111 pop · Grade C-
View all Indiana city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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