2022 Best Places to Live in the Fort Wayne Area

• Suburb of Fort Wayne, IN

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  Rating 3.69 out of 5  29 reviews

Current Resident: Huntertown is a quaint, relaxed village. Full of kind shops and easy going locals, just north of Fort Wayne sits a welcoming jewel of a town. Huntertown houses a family friendly local, with plenty of parks and activities for families to enjoy, especially in the summer months, including the Heritage Day parade. Not to mention the excellent education opportunities from Northwest Allen County schools. This is a perfect place to raise a family. Because of the location of Huntertown, it has the ideal distance away from the city to still have peace and quiet, yet a short drive will get you to any of the amazing local restaurants, supermarkets, and downtown necessities one may desire. Being so close has also had the perk of great medical and health facilities that have spread north into the area, specifically from Parkview Health. Overall, Huntertown is an amazing area, booming with new faces all the time, and it's no wonder. This area is perfect for raising families, and settling down.... Read 29 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Population 8,965

• City in Indiana

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  Rating 3.84 out of 5  871 reviews

Current Resident: Born and raised here, left for Central Indiana and then South Florida for about 11 years due to a job transfer and have been back since 2016. I’ll say this, compared to the other locations I’ve lived in I can honestly say Ft Wayne is a great place to live. It’s home! Cost of living is so much better than others and I just bought a nice house for half of what it would cost me in So Fla. People say there isn’t a lot to do but I feel there is. I mean if you want a big city type of atmosphere with clubs everywhere then no it isn’t but there are things to do. Winter does seem long and that limits your activities to do but in the summer there is definitely a ton to do. Like every city there is a bad side of town but I don’t think the crime is out of control like some say in their reviews.It’s far less than the other places I lived. Some really good schools in certain areas and people are very midwestern friendly and accommodating. Just overall a very nice town to raise a family and live in... Read 871 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B minus

• Population 262,676

• Suburb of Fort Wayne, IN

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  Rating 4.3 out of 5  10 reviews

Current Resident: Leo is a small, friendly community where families are valued and the cost of living is reasonable. Close enough to Fort Wayne and Auburn for convenience, but far enough away to avoid congestion. Locally, there is a large County park, a river for kayaking, a reservoir for fishing and two smaller parks dedicated to family fun; Riverside Gardens and the Imagination Station. The schools are close and have dedicated parental involvement. Minutes from Grabill, there are opportunities to find farmer's markets with local honey, country fairs, Amish baked goods and crafts, community gatherings for 4th of July and other events, live music, hiking, hunting and other outdoor activity. But Leo's best characteristic is the people who have chosen to make Leo their home. The area has been growing quickly, but still remains "small town" in the way it welcomes visitors and residents alike.... Read 10 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Population 3,626

• Suburb of Fort Wayne, IN

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  Rating 4.25 out of 5  4 reviews

Current Resident: I love my little town. Everyone is friendly and knows each other. We have a unique, small town feel while still being within an easy drive of Fort Wayne, New Haven, and Auburn.... Read 4 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Population 1,208

• Town in Indiana

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  Rating 3.86 out of 5  28 reviews

Current Resident: I love Auburn very much! The small city is a comforting place to live, in which I always feel very safe.... Read 28 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 13,281

• Town in Indiana

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  Rating 3.28 out of 5  25 reviews

Works Here: A very friendly place to live! This is the place where neighbors gather on the streets and talk. The schools are all great and its very safe town overall. The City has a lot to offer The River Greenway is great, State Park, Numerous walking and bike trails, along with an amazing parks department. Events along the river for all ages! A Place where you will enjoy living!... Read 25 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B+

• Population 10,548

• Town in Indiana

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  Rating 5 out of 5  5 reviews

Current Resident: It's my hometown, and it's always been quiet and safe with a welcoming and diverse community. While it's small with not a huge nightlife scene, or job opportunities you'd see in bigger cities, I'm still happy to call it home.... Read 5 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• Population 3,263

• Town in Indiana

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  Rating 3.74 out of 5  50 reviews

Current Resident: I love Columbia City! It is a small town with just the right amount of urbanization. There are fields and there are walmart's and other chain stores. I like the small town feeling, it is safe, it is friendly, and everyone mostly knows everyone. I have only lived here for about 7 years, so I have not seen what needs changed. Everything seems pretty nice to me, the law enforcement is great! There is not much of a night life here, there is like 1 bar that is open at night and it is pretty low key. The schools are nice! We have one of the highest ranking middle schools in the area. The cost of living is super affordable and there are plenty job opportunities.... Read 50 reviews

• grade B

• grade C

• Population 9,390

• Town in Indiana

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  Rating 3.74 out of 5  19 reviews

Current Resident: Garrett is a place I call my hometown. The school is what is at the center of the community... as what all small towns typically are! For being a public school, it's the best in Northeast Indiana, in my opinion. Safety in Garrett is great! The law enforcement officers are typically friendly (unless you're dumb and think you can outsmart a cop), but often stay in their cars and do not interact with the community. The city is family friendly, often having parades and 3 parks and a very nice library. The housing market is cheap and you can buy a fixer-upper for a very nice price if you're willing to invest a little time and money to make it a little more livable. Job opportunities are quite available because travel time to Fort Wayne is less than a half hour or Auburn is five minutes away as well. Garrett is a great place to raise a family and live comfortably, and again, I have lived in many towns but I am glad to call this one my own!... Read 19 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• Population 6,592

• Town in Indiana

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  Rating 3.45 out of 5  38 reviews

Current Resident: I absolutely love my hometown of Kendallville, IN! It will always have such a special place in my heart.... Read 38 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• Population 9,926

• Town in Indiana

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  Rating 3.31 out of 5  45 reviews

Current Resident: Friendly town. Need lower taxes. There are good local places to eat and nice theaters. During the summer there are many activities for kids. I like the local library and downtown retailers. We could use more national retailers, as, several businesses have left... Read 45 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Population 17,018

• Suburb of Fort Wayne, IN

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  Rating 3.67 out of 5  43 reviews

Former Resident: Very close to Fort Wayne, IN. A good mix of a small quiet town without losing the amenities that a bigger city has to offer. A good school system complete with small businesses makes for a comfortable place to live.... Read 43 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Population 15,922

• Town in Indiana

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  Rating 3.88 out of 5  16 reviews

Current Resident: Decatur is over all a really good town to raise your family in, It is a family town. It is one of the safest towns in Indiana to live. The town is growing and there is more coming to it for people to do as well. Decatur overall is a good town to be in.... Read 16 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• Population 9,630

• Suburb of Fort Wayne, IN

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  Rating 3.31 out of 5  16 reviews

Current Resident: I love this township, this district has wonderful schools, supportive teachers, lots of entertainment and places to eat, and is all around a great place to live.... Read 16 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 41,353

• Suburb of Fort Wayne, IN

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  Rating 3.55 out of 5  20 reviews

Niche User: While Fort Wayne, Indiana wouldn't necessarily be considered a hub of many activities, it makes up for it with the overall atmosphere. People there are generally very kind, respectful, and friendly. It is also a very religious area with a larger concentration of churches both denominational and non-denominational than many other areas I have lived. It is constantly growing with new subdivisions springing up overnight and a very active economy. Overall it is a great place to live!... Read 20 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 36,612

• Suburb of Fort Wayne, IN

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  Rating 4 out of 5  3 reviews

Niche User: The area I live in is very free and open. The best part is the lack of noise and hustle and bustle that is associated with city life. However, the roads are getting bigger and buildings are being built close by, but they are still out of the way to let me enjoy a peaceful lifestyle.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 4,139

• Suburb of Fort Wayne, IN

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  Rating 4 out of 5  17 reviews

Niche User: I absolutely love the community I live in. It has an atmosphere that felt like home the day I moved in. If I could choose again where I would live, I would pick the same exact house in a heartbeat. It has been a joy to see the neighborhood and community around me develop over the last several months. Around my house there is a new hospital and several businesses that are playing a role in creating an upcoming area for people who live in Fort Wayne. I cannot wait to be part of the development and growth of my area as my family gets more established in the community. I am passionate about getting involved in the growth that is helping build the community. Over the next year I plan to do this by teaching in the neighborhood school when I graduate. I want to teach in this school to build a deeper level of community in the neighborhood and with the students who live there. It is crucial that teachers are part of the bigger community that students belong to. Teacher involvement in the community is a valuable asset to the development and growth of students. When teachers are involved in the lives of their students outside of school, academics are positively impacted. This growing area has been a total blessing to my family. Living in one of the more expensive areas in Fort Wayne can be a financial burden at times; however, I wouldn't change living there for anything.... Read 17 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Population 13,567

• Suburb of Fort Wayne, IN

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  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Niche User: I just moved here from Florida a year ago. Living in the Midwest is a new experience. The people are friendly. I see that the area puts much effort into things to do, restoration of Downtown, job placements, and Indiana has its own program for health insurance. Coming from a tourist/ retirement area, it is nice to see this area trying to keep people here. There is much pride for this area.... Read 1 review

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Population 2,737

• Suburb of Fort Wayne, IN

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  Rating 4 out of 5  6 reviews

Current Resident: This is a very family-friendly place to live or work, and everyone is very kind and welcoming. The facilities offered in St. Joseph Township are very nice, and there are many things for people to do here.... Read 6 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B minus

• Population 75,731

• Suburb of Fort Wayne, IN

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  Rating 3.5 out of 5  2 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade C+

• Population 38,160

• Suburb of Fort Wayne, IN

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  Rating 3.38 out of 5  8 reviews

Niche User: I do plan on moving, however, I love living out in the country as well as not being surrounded by other neighbors all of the time. Also, I enjoy the nice weather, but hate the snow.... Read 8 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Population 4,130

• Suburb of Fort Wayne, IN

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  Rating 3.67 out of 5  6 reviews

Niche User: There hasn't been much trouble besides a neighbor getting broken into... Read 6 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade C+

• Population 106,984

• Town in Indiana

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  6 reviews

Current Resident: My husband and I relocated here from Seattle and purchased a 4 acre farm in 2012. In that time we had 3 children and started our own business. We wanted a safe rural location that was affordable so that we could get a property with land, but also had access to the city amenities in Fort Wayne and Huntington. Roanoke has exceeded our expectations in the quality of life that we have been able to achieve at such a low cost.... Read 6 reviews

• grade B+

• grade C+

• Population 1,737

• Suburb of Fort Wayne, IN

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  Rating 3 out of 5  3 reviews

Current Resident: Pendleton schools, 10 mins from Pendlton, Anderson, and New Castle. Property taxes are some of the lowest in Madison county. It is a safe quiet town. There is a small pizza place in town and they do deliver. Just on the outside of town, you will find more open spaces and country living. There is a small park just outside of town. A nice place to take you dog for a walk or the kids to play for an hour or two.... Read 3 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B minus

• Population 33,935

• Town in Indiana

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  Rating 4.29 out of 5  7 reviews

Niche User: My town is a place in which I could live forever. I love the town. There is a winery nearby that always has bands performing and food trucks selling food. There are many nice local businesses, "mom and pop shops", and antique stores around that are fun to shop at. The elementary school in town gets a very high rating by the state of Indiana. The parks are beautiful, and crime and vandalism are very low. The community is very diverse, with people of all ages living there. The little town is in close proximity to a larger town that is useful for larger scale shopping and events. There are festivals and "demolition derbies" every year, along with fresh farmer's markets weekly. In all, Roanoke, IN is one of the best small towns I have ever been to and I can't imagine living anywhere else.... Read 7 reviews

• grade B+

• grade C+

• Population 4,076