Metro area profile · Indiana
Fort Wayne, IN metro area market data
How the Fort Wayne metro area compares with other metro areas for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 466,258
- +3.9% since 2020
- Households
- 182,145
- Median household income
- $71,213
- Median home value
- $214,100
- Jobs located here
- 229,223
- Highest market score
- 77
- Convenience stores, #30 of 387 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Fort Wayne metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Fort Wayne metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Fort Wayne metro area has an estimated 466,258 people and 182,145 households. Population estimates show the Fort Wayne metro area grew 3.9% from 2020 to 2025, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Fort Wayne metro area is $71,213, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Fort Wayne metro area runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 109, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (65).
Of the business types scored in the Fort Wayne metro area, convenience stores (77), grocery and convenience stores (76) and nail salons (75) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For convenience stores, that ranks #30 of 387 scored metro areas.
The Fort Wayne metro area takes in 3 counties: Allen County, Whitley County and Wells County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for roofing and gutter companies (47% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios (42% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Fort Wayne metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Fort Wayne metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convenience stores | 77 | #30 of 387 | 87 | 4.8 | $12.4M | 157 | 15 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 76 | #27 of 387 | 256 | 14.1 | $4.2M | 124 | 63 |
| Nail salons | 75 | #17 of 387 | 76 | 4.2 | $2.3M | 138 | 12 |
| Veterinarians | 75 | #33 of 384 | 39 | 2.1 | $3.8M | 139 | 31 |
| Car washes and detailing | 73 | #34 of 387 | 62 | 3.4 | $3.1M | 122 | 25 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 72 | #38 of 387 | 187 | 10.3 | $1.3M | 136 | 151 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 71 | #43 of 387 | 830 | 45.6 | $822K | 124 | 287 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 71 | #54 of 387 | 1,583 | 86.9 | $431K | 116 | 744 |
| Laundromats | 71 | #59 of 364 | 23 | 1.3 | $15.1M | 121 | 6 |
| Tire shops | 68 | #85 of 386 | 66 | 3.6 | $2.9M | 115 | 24 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 67 | #33 of 197 | 10 | 0.5 | $25M | 102 | 10 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 66 | #83 of 387 | 125 | 6.9 | $2M | 113 | 217 |
| Grocery stores | 65 | #87 of 387 | 106 | 5.8 | $10.2M | 110 | 48 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 63 | #62 of 347 | 26 | 1.4 | $5.9M | 145 | 54 |
| Gyms | 63 | #76 of 387 | 106 | 5.8 | $1.4M | 111 | 54 |
| Chiropractors | 63 | #93 of 386 | 88 | 4.8 | $2.8M | 119 | 53 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 63 | #104 of 381 | 49 | 2.7 | $3.9M | 126 | 49 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 62 | #96 of 387 | 151 | 8.3 | $4.5M | 122 | 97 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 61 | #75 of 387 | 687 | 37.7 | $255K | 120 | 196 |
| Auto repair and car care | 61 | #115 of 387 | 640 | 35.1 | $297K | 111 | 284 |
| Dry cleaners | 60 | #90 of 272 | 18 | 1.0 | $19.3M | 123 | 13 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 59 | #100 of 290 | 16 | 0.9 | $11.9M | 87 | 13 |
| Spas and skin care | 59 | #104 of 387 | 151 | 8.3 | $1.2M | 132 | 45 |
| Hair salons | 59 | #111 of 387 | 355 | 19.5 | $493K | 115 | 119 |
| Pest control | 59 | #111 of 345 | 17 | 0.9 | $12.8M | 126 | 19 |
| Physical therapy | 59 | #129 of 386 | 92 | 5.1 | $2.7M | 113 | 84 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 59 | #133 of 387 | 362 | 19.9 | $960K | 109 | 147 |
| Auto repair shops | 58 | #127 of 387 | 375 | 20.6 | $507K | 114 | 219 |
| Pet businesses | 58 | #135 of 387 | 183 | 10.0 | $807K | 92 | 81 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 57 | #120 of 387 | 216 | 11.9 | $707K | 107 | 107 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 56 | #168 of 387 | 266 | 14.6 | $1.3M | 103 | 128 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 55 | #168 of 387 | 241 | 13.2 | $2.8M | 93 | 355 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 52 | #182 of 387 | 98 | 5.4 | $4.9M | 104 | 162 |
| Pet stores | 51 | #181 of 382 | 35 | 1.9 | $4.2M | 93 | 13 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 51 | #190 of 387 | 1,929 | 105.9 | $130K | 85 | 570 |
| Property management | 50 | #184 of 374 | 42 | 2.3 | Index only | 107 | 76 |
| Pizza | 50 | #196 of 387 | 151 | 8.3 | $4.5M | 89 | 355 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 50 | #198 of 387 | 167 | 9.2 | $4.1M | 99 | 108 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 47 | #231 of 386 | 79 | 4.3 | $3.2M | 101 | 55 |
| Home inspectors | 46 | #149 of 243 | 14 | 0.8 | Index only | 68 | 7 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 46 | #232 of 386 | 71 | 3.9 | $2.1M | 82 | 37 |
| Barbershops | 45 | #246 of 387 | 93 | 5.1 | $1.9M | 100 | 17 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 45 | #247 of 387 | 84 | 4.6 | $1.8M | 90 | 53 |
| Child care and preschools | 42 | #256 of 387 | 101 | 5.5 | $685K | 68 | 82 |
| Gas stations | 41 | #260 of 387 | 254 | 13.9 | $1.9M | 80 | 168 |
| Electricians | 39 | #282 of 383 | 57 | 3.1 | $8.5M | 71 | 109 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 38 | #283 of 373 | 79 | 4.3 | Index only | 81 | 24 |
| Home repair trades | 38 | #289 of 387 | 252 | 13.8 | $1.9M | 79 | 324 |
| Funeral homes | 37 | #266 of 377 | 39 | 2.1 | $611K | 90 | 35 |
| Real estate | 37 | #312 of 387 | 597 | 32.8 | Index only | 97 | 392 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 36 | #322 of 387 | 462 | 25.4 | Index only | 99 | 234 |
| House cleaning | 34 | #307 of 375 | 46 | 2.5 | $4.7M | 74 | 105 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 32 | #326 of 387 | 180 | 9.9 | $1.2M | 72 | 313 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 30 | #326 of 385 | 117 | 6.4 | $1.9M | 64 | 189 |
| Roofing and gutters | 28 | #347 of 381 | 97 | 5.3 | $5M | 59 | 53 |
| Insurance agencies | 25 | #339 of 387 | 313 | 17.2 | $939K | 75 | 233 |
Household spending in the Fort Wayne metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $190.3M | $1,045 | 109 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $483.2M | $2,653 | 102 |
| Food away from home | $682.2M | $3,745 | 92 |
| Groceries | $1.1B | $5,925 | 94 |
| Personal care products and services | $175M | $961 | 96 |
| Child care and other personal services | $69.2M | $380 | 65 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $152.6M | $838 | 85 |
| Medical and dental services | $250.5M | $1,375 | 107 |
| Pets | $147.7M | $811 | 89 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $347.3M | $1,907 | 93 |
| Vehicle insurance | $293.8M | $1,613 | 82 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $482.6M | $2,649 | 88 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $218.3M | $1,199 | 85 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $2.5B | $13,709 | 82 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Fort Wayne metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 466,258+3.9% since 2020
- Households
- 182,145
- Median age
- 37.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 70%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 1,361 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 335
- Median household income
- $71,213
- Average household income
- $93,321
- Median home value
- $214,100
- Jobs located here
- 229,223
- Daytime population
- 467,926Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Fort Wayne metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Fort Wayne metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Fort Wayne metro area 3
- Allen County, IN392,378 people
- Whitley County, IN34,618 people
- Wells County, IN28,420 people
Other markets based in Indiana 12
- Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area2,130,055 people
- South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area324,560 people
- Evansville, IN metro area270,494 people
- Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area226,805 people
- Elkhart-Goshen, IN metro area207,132 people
- Terre Haute, IN metro area168,719 people
- Bloomington, IN metro area162,569 people
- Muncie, IN metro area112,280 people
- Michigan City-La Porte, IN metro area111,917 people
- Kokomo, IN metro area83,752 people
- Columbus, IN metro area83,536 people
- Warsaw, IN area80,442 people
Questions
How fast is the Fort Wayne, IN metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Fort Wayne metro area at 466,258 people in 2025, up 3.9% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 182,145 households.
How much do households in the Fort Wayne, IN metro area spend?
Households in the Fort Wayne metro area spend about $2.5B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $1.1B on groceries and $682.2M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Fort Wayne metro area spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 109, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (65).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Fort Wayne, IN metro area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Fort Wayne metro area are for convenience stores (77), grocery and convenience stores (76) and nail salons (75). The Fort Wayne metro area ranks #30 of 387 scored metro areas for convenience stores.
How does the Fort Wayne, IN metro area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Fort Wayne metro area is $71,213 a year, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $214,100, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Fort Wayne metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for roofing and gutter companies (47% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios (42% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in the Fort Wayne metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Fort Wayne metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Indiana · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Fort Wayne metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Fort Wayne metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.