FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Livability.com has unveiled its 2026 Top 100 Best Places to Live list, and Fort Wayne has earned a spot among the nation’s most vibrant and livable small to mid-sized cities.
The City released the following from Livability.com:
“Our ‘Top 100’ is an annual data-driven collection of what we consider to be the best small to mid-size cities,” says Amanda Ellis, Livability.com Editor-in-Chief. “As Americans face consistently evolving work dynamics and a desire for the best quality of life possible amidst inflation and uncertainty, our list celebrates places where people can more realistically build families, launch businesses and lead meaningful lives.”
Why Fort Wayne, IN, Stands Out
To build this list, Livability partnered with the data experts at Applied Geographic Solutions (AGS) to analyze nearly 100 data points across eight essential categories:
- Economy & Housing: We prioritize affordability by comparing average rents and home prices to local incomes.
- Amenities & Environment: We measure the “fun factor” alongside air quality and green space.
- Safety, Health & Education: We evaluate the vital infrastructure that keeps your family safe and supported.
- Transportation: We look for places where you spend less time in traffic and more time living.
Because Americans face a higher cost of living than ever before, this year’s proprietary algorithm gave extra weight to the Housing and Cost of Living category. To ensure the 2026 list remains attainable and affordable, Livability only includes cities with a median home value under $500,000.
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