Fort Wayne, Indiana Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates

The population of Fort Wayne, Indiana is 266,235 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 85th-largest city in the United States and the 2nd-largest in Indiana. The median household income is $60,293, the median home value is $169,700, and the median age is 35.0.

The population has grown 7.5% since 2010 (254,161 → 273,203).

266,235

Population

2382

People / sq mi

$60,293

Median Income

$169,700

Median Home Value

Fort Wayne covers 111.8 sq mi of land at 2382 people per square mile.

About Fort Wayne, IN

Fort Wayne is a city in Indiana with a population of 266,235. It ranks #2 among cities in Indiana by population. The median age is 35.0, younger than the national median. The population is 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

The median household income in Fort Wayne is $60,293, below the US median of $74,580. 11.8% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $169,700, with monthly rent averaging $959. The homeownership rate of 62.2% is lower than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Fort Wayne reflects 28.5% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 8.2% of workers primarily work from home, below the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 21.4 minutes each way.

Fort Wayne city Population History (2010-2024)

The city of Fort Wayne city had a population of 254,161 in 2010 and 273,203 in 2024, a 7.5% growth over 14 years. The peak was 273,203 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 0.52%.

273,203

Population (2024)

254,161

Population (2010)

273,203

Peak (2024)

0.52%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	254,161	-	-	estimate
2011	256,293	+2,132	+0.84%	estimate
2012	257,626	+1,333	+0.52%	estimate
2013	259,333	+1,707	+0.66%	estimate
2014	260,570	+1,237	+0.48%	estimate
2015	262,109	+1,539	+0.59%	estimate
2016	263,513	+1,404	+0.54%	estimate
2017	265,128	+1,615	+0.61%	estimate
2018	267,460	+2,332	+0.88%	estimate
2019	270,402	+2,942	+1.10%	estimate
2020	264,394	-6,008	-2.22%	estimate
2021	266,455	+2,061	+0.78%	estimate
2022	268,394	+1,939	+0.73%	estimate
2023	270,408	+2,014	+0.75%	estimate
2024	273,203	+2,795	+1.03%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	66.4%
Black or African American	14.6%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.6%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Economy & Income

$60,293

Median Household Income

$32,884

Per Capita Income

11.8%

Poverty Rate

3.6%

Unemployment Rate

Housing

$169,700

Median Home Value

$959

Median Rent

62.2%

Owner-Occupied

Education

88.9%

High School+

28.5%

Bachelor's+

Commute

1.2%

Drive Alone

78.1%

Public Transit

8.2%

Work From Home

21.4 min

Avg Commute

Community Profile

24.8%

Foreign Born

86.2%

Non-English at Home

6.2%

Veterans

13.6%

With Disability

90.6%

Health Insurance

94.5%

Internet Access

Employment by Industry

Professional, Scientific & Management	24.1%
Manufacturing	18.6%
Education, Health Care & Social Services	8.6%
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate	8.1%
Information	6.3%
Retail Trade	5.9%
Construction	5.1%
Arts, Entertainment & Food Services	4.7%
Public Administration	2.5%
Transportation & Warehousing	1.3%
Agriculture & Mining	0.3%

Largest cities in Indiana

Indianapolis (882,043)Evansville (116,441)South Bend (102,866)Fishers (100,918)Carmel (100,501)Bloomington (78,791)Hammond (77,098)Noblesville (71,940)Lafayette (70,650)Gary (68,604)View all Indiana cities →

Largest counties in Indiana

Marion County (971,822)Lake County (498,990)Allen County (388,791)Hamilton County (357,176)St. Joseph County (272,574)

Part of Indiana

Indiana demographic profile All Indiana data →

Metro areas in Indiana

Chicago (9,359,555)Cincinnati (2,255,257)Indianapolis (2,106,327)Louisville/Jefferson County (1,361,847)Fort Wayne (451,440)South Bend (324,180)Evansville (269,721)Lafayette (225,019)All US metros →

City rankings

US Cities by Population Cities With Highest Median Income Expensive US Cities by Home Value Youngest US Cities by Median Age Racially Diverse US Cities Cities With Highest Rent Educated US Cities Cities With Highest Work From Home Rates Cheapest US Cities by Median Home Value Cities With Lowest Rent All rankings →

Common questions about Fort Wayne, IN

What is the population of Fort Wayne city, IN?What is the median household income in Fort Wayne city, IN?What is the median home value in Fort Wayne city, IN?What are the demographics of Fort Wayne city, IN?What is the cost of living in Fort Wayne city, IN?Is Fort Wayne city, IN growing?

Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Wayne, Indiana has a population of 266,235 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 85th-largest city in the United States and the 2nd-largest in Indiana.

The median household income in Fort Wayne, Indiana is $60,293, with 11.8% of residents living below the federal poverty level.

The median home value in Fort Wayne, Indiana is $169,700, with median monthly rent at $959 and a homeownership rate of 62.2%.

The median age in Fort Wayne, Indiana is 35.0 years. The population is 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

The population has grown 7.5% since 2010 (254,161 → 273,203).