What’s the best part of Fort Wayne? It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Fort Wayne are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Fort Wayne neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to Indiana and Fort Wayne is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2026.
$90,801 median income · $191,000 median home value
$64,335 median income · $101,800 median home value
$96,516 median income · $212,000 median home value
$94,519 median income · $191,000 median home value
$64,148 median income · $185,300 median home value
$69,185 median income · $157,350 median home value
$64,148 median income · $185,300 median home value
$61,094 median income · $144,900 median home value
$69,380 median income · $159,900 median home value
$50,833 median income · $168,000 median home value
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Indiana’s statewide median.
Indiana statewide median: $71,957
Indiana statewide median: $254,122
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How we determined the best Fort Wayne, IN neighborhoods in 2026
To rank the best neighborhoods in Fort Wayne, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 185 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Fort Wayne.” We’re lookin’ at you, Pine Valley.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Fort Wayne, Indiana has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Fort Wayne.
The full plate
Table: Best Fort Wayne neighborhoods for 2026
Click any column to sort. Search by neighborhood name.
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pine Valley | 2,038 | $191,000 | $90,801 |
| 2 | Brentwood Park | 1,249 | $101,800 | $64,335 |
| 3 | Shorewood | 686 | $212,000 | $96,516 |
| 4 | Lake Pointe Villas | 132 | $191,000 | $94,519 |
| 5 | Tamarak | 398 | $185,300 | $64,148 |
| 6 | Lincoln Village | 1,196 | $157,350 | $69,185 |
| 7 | Sunny Meadows | 288 | $185,300 | $64,148 |
| 8 | Lake Forest Extended | 847 | $144,900 | $61,094 |
| 9 | Wheatridge | 291 | $159,900 | $69,380 |
| 10 | Paper Mill Bluffs | 448 | $168,000 | $50,833 |
| 11 | Timber Lake-Covington Woods | 518 | $258,200 | $89,982 |
| 12 | Woodlands Of Riverside | 371 | $168,000 | $50,833 |
| 13 | Kekionga Shores | 249 | $171,000 | $85,417 |
| 14 | Centaur Acres | 202 | $258,200 | $91,125 |
| 15 | Mill Ridge Place | 104 | $164,300 | $73,971 |
| 16 | Copper Hill | 523 | $166,500 | $88,207 |
| 17 | Northwood Park | 188 | $159,900 | $69,380 |
| 18 | Wallen Chase | 274 | $154,800 | $68,990 |
| 19 | Oakborough | 474 | $166,500 | $88,207 |
| 20 | Plantation Of Aboite | 140 | $171,000 | $85,398 |
| 21 | Manor Park | 264 | $154,800 | $68,990 |
| 22 | Wyndemere | 239 | $185,300 | $52,109 |
| 23 | Aboite Meadows | 486 | $166,500 | $90,909 |
| 24 | Inverness Lakes | 401 | $292,150 | $85,473 |
| 25 | Winterset | 250 | $170,500 | $59,947 |
| 26 | Saratoga Park | 909 | $171,000 | $107,127 |
| 27 | Liberty Hills West | 106 | $171,000 | $85,417 |
| 28 | The Knolls | 204 | $144,900 | $61,094 |
| 29 | Waterswolde | 225 | $148,400 | $62,708 |
| 30 | Becketts Run | 121 | $154,800 | $68,990 |
| 31 | Winterfield | 273 | $166,500 | $88,207 |
| 32 | Auburn Farms | 106 | $154,800 | $68,990 |
| 33 | Westlawn | 736 | $123,900 | $59,274 |
| 34 | Liberty Hill | 184 | $160,850 | $83,334 |
| 35 | Inverness Hills | 84 | $326,100 | $79,821 |
| 36 | Millstone | 352 | $148,600 | $67,254 |
| 37 | Kensington Downs | 441 | $153,100 | $63,960 |
| 38 | Shores Of Oakborough | 207 | $166,500 | $88,207 |
| 39 | Kirkwood Park | 278 | $121,500 | $67,852 |
| 40 | Village Of Buckingham | 434 | $118,300 | $71,000 |
| 41 | Burnham Woods | 70 | $150,700 | $81,250 |
| 42 | Statewood Park | 394 | $118,300 | $71,000 |
| 43 | Newfield | 88 | $130,600 | $70,291 |
| 44 | Kern Valley Meadows | 263 | $153,100 | $63,960 |
| 45 | Walden | 1,072 | $118,300 | $76,987 |
| 46 | New Glenwood | 1,064 | $118,300 | $76,987 |
| 47 | Eldorado Hills | 127 | $148,400 | $62,708 |
| 48 | Centerhurst | 500 | $121,300 | $63,500 |
| 49 | Maplewood Park | 887 | $122,500 | $55,865 |
| 50 | Lake Forest | 720 | $146,200 | $50,880 |
| 51 | Aldale Acres | 173 | $147,800 | $65,300 |
| 52 | Bullerman Park Forest | 408 | $116,300 | $68,786 |
| 53 | Summit Ridge | 233 | $118,300 | $71,000 |
| 54 | Log Cabin Park | 275 | $141,300 | $70,063 |
| 55 | Hearthstone | 153 | $148,600 | $67,254 |
| 56 | Lakes Of Buckingham | 221 | $118,300 | $71,000 |
| 57 | Oakhurst | 299 | $116,300 | $68,786 |
| 58 | Park State East | 254 | $150,100 | $89,024 |
| 59 | Breconshire | 116 | $133,600 | $43,080 |
| 60 | Brookside Park | 274 | $121,300 | $63,500 |
| 61 | Old Brook Farm | 251 | $121,300 | $63,500 |
| 62 | Countryside | 194 | $150,100 | $89,024 |
| 63 | Bass-Leesburg | 1,513 | $136,900 | $63,595 |
| 64 | Brandonwood | 207 | $121,300 | $63,500 |
| 65 | Bellshire | 191 | $150,100 | $89,024 |
| 66 | Wildwood Park | 882 | $224,900 | $33,893 |
| 67 | Abby Place | 153 | $123,900 | $59,274 |
| 68 | Countrybrook | 181 | $150,100 | $89,024 |
| 69 | The Hollows | 107 | $118,300 | $71,000 |
| 70 | Southwood Park | 1,856 | $108,400 | $65,471 |
| 71 | Greenfield | 177 | $121,300 | $63,500 |
| 72 | Parkview | 1,055 | $101,250 | $41,262 |
| 73 | Georgetown Place | 549 | $147,500 | $40,667 |
| 74 | Lakeshores | 530 | $149,050 | $51,044 |
| 75 | Maplewood Terrace And Downs | 682 | $127,600 | $55,774 |
| 76 | North Triangle | 452 | $83,700 | $61,912 |
| 77 | Falls Of Beaver Creek | 127 | $123,900 | $59,274 |
| 78 | Camelot | 156 | $116,300 | $68,786 |
| 79 | Harrison Hill | 455 | $81,600 | $69,578 |
| 80 | Concord Hills | 390 | $117,000 | $67,234 |
| 81 | Cambridge Oaks | 185 | $122,500 | $55,865 |
| 82 | Willshire Estates | 143 | $116,300 | $68,786 |
| 83 | Ranchwood | 756 | $136,800 | $31,960 |
| 84 | Maplewood Gardens | 135 | $116,300 | $68,786 |
| 85 | Valley Park Forest | 384 | $147,500 | $40,667 |
| 86 | Audubon Park | 92 | $150,100 | $89,024 |
| 87 | Fairmont | 831 | $95,000 | $70,582 |
| 88 | Springwood-Orchard Woods | 433 | $95,300 | $51,224 |
| 89 | Frances Slocum | 2,306 | $102,680 | $58,600 |
| 90 | Tanbark Trails | 323 | $117,000 | $67,234 |
| 91 | West Central | 3,781 | $126,320 | $38,260 |
| 92 | Blackhawk | 1,341 | $127,700 | $50,804 |
| 93 | North Highlands | 1,630 | $85,050 | $52,750 |
| 94 | Irvington Park | 180 | $83,700 | $61,912 |
| 95 | Greentree | 238 | $116,400 | $62,917 |
| 96 | Westwood-Fairway | 1,154 | $121,050 | $49,540 |
| 97 | Bohde Grove | 198 | $116,400 | $62,917 |
| 98 | Sawmill Woods | 308 | $101,250 | $41,262 |
| 99 | Lincoln Park | 756 | $80,000 | $59,276 |
| 100 | Bellair | 324 | $99,500 | $49,297 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024. All 185 Fort Wayne neighborhoods.
Summary
Summary: Putting a bow on our analysis of the best neighborhoods in Fort Wayne
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Fort Wayne where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Fort Wayne are Pine Valley, Brentwood Park, Shorewood, Lake Pointe Villas, Tamarak, Lincoln Village, Sunny Meadows, Lake Forest Extended, Wheatridge, and Paper Mill Bluffs.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Fort Wayne aren’t all good. Highland Park Forest takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Fort Wayne.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below. Not sold on Indiana? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Best Neighborhoods In Fort Wayne FAQs
What is the best neighborhood in Fort Wayne?
Pine Valley is the best neighborhood in Fort Wayne for 2026, according to Saturday Night Science. Brentwood Park and Shorewood are next.
What are the best neighborhoods in Fort Wayne?
The best neighborhoods in Fort Wayne are Pine Valley, Brentwood Park, Shorewood, Lake Pointe Villas, Tamarak, Lincoln Village, Sunny Meadows, Lake Forest Extended, Wheatridge, and Paper Mill Bluffs. We ranked all 185 neighborhoods in the city.
How expensive is Pine Valley?
The median household income in Pine Valley is $90,801 and the median home costs $191,000. The best blocks in Fort Wayne rarely come at a discount.
How do you rank Fort Wayne neighborhoods?
Each neighborhood is scored on income, home values, population density, unemployment, and crime, using Census tract data. The neighborhood with the best combined score, Pine Valley, takes the top spot.
Which Fort Wayne neighborhood ranked last?
Highland Park Forest came in last of the 185 neighborhoods we scored. Every city has a bottom of the table; in Fort Wayne the numbers put it there.
