FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): Fort Wayne is earning national recognition as one of the most affordable places in America to buy a home.
A new report from personal finance website WalletHub ranks Fort Wayne 16th overall among 300 U.S. cities for home-buying affordability in 2026. The city also placed sixth among midsize cities nationwide.
The study comes as the national housing market remains expensive, with the median U.S. home sales price now sitting at more than $403,000 and average 30-year mortgage rates hovering near 6.4 percent.
WalletHub compared cities using 10 different factors, including housing affordability, maintenance costs, homeowner’s insurance, property taxes, home-price appreciation and cost of living.
Fort Wayne scored especially well for housing affordability, ranking 36th nationally, along with low cost per square foot and relatively affordable living expenses. The city also ranked 50th for rent-to-price ratio, a measure often used to evaluate long-term value for buyers.
Still, the report found some challenges. Fort Wayne ranked lower for maintenance affordability and vacancy rates, while property tax rates landed near the middle of the pack.
WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said affordability goes far beyond just the listing price of a home.
“When deciding where to buy, home prices alone aren’t a good enough indicator of how affordable things will be,” Lupo said. “You also have to consider how prices compare to incomes in the area, plus factor in things like the cost of living, maintenance expenses and taxes.”
The report named Flint, Michigan as the most affordable city in the country for home buyers, followed by Detroit and Surprise, Arizona.
Housing experts interviewed for the study say 2026 could bring a modest rebound in the housing market as inventory slowly increases and mortgage rates ease slightly from recent highs. However, many say affordability challenges are still expected to continue in higher-demand markets across the country.