Detroit area to Fort Wayne (Dupont: car insurance, crime, homes)

[msmidwesttt]

I currently live 30 minutes from Detroit. No need to explain the huge mess in Michigan. I have been looking at Fort Wayne as my next move for me and my children. My questions are: Is FW a decent place to raise a family, how is the crime rate, how are the schools, community recreation and activities, cost of living? I am paying an arm and leg in car insurance here. I was told MI is the most expensive state. Please be brutally honest in your comments. I have to get out of Michigan. This all is ridiculous!!!

[cdcdguy]

Fort Wayne while not perfect is a good city. Most crime occurs in a few mile area of one part of the city. It is not an expensive place and would be a great place to raise a family. We are much smaller than Detroit though.

Fort Wayne community schools are ok, but other districts like SW Allen have very good schools.

[ischyros]

I would recommend Southwest Allen County schools as well. The area around Jefferson Blvd west of I-69 would be ideal for raising a family in Fort Wayne, but the north side around Dupont Rd is nice as well. There are plenty of family activities in Fort Wayne. The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo is great. Science Central is a nice science museum for the kids. And there are all kinds of festivals in downtown Fort Wayne during the summer. While there are several branches of the public library around the city, the central library downtown is amazing.

Cost of living should be fairly low. Most homes in the SW Allen County school district will run between $200k and $300k but I think you can find some for under $200k, especially as you get north toward Aboite Center Rd. Property tax in Indiana is capped at 1% (not sure if any areas of Fort Wayne had a referendum to raise this or not).

[AJPackers]

I also, as someone that went through the SACS school system (grades 3-12) can vouch for its quality.