Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Glendale, AZ
🏆 Albuquerque leads 13 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Glendale
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$66,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $64k less ($246,000 vs $310,000)
Rent averages $254/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,268)
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 105°F
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Glendale by $4,872/yr
Glendale, AZ
Pros
59% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 52°F
Households earn $4,872 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $310,000
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$64k less
$246,000 vs $310,000
Glendale
Median Income
$4,872
$66,375 vs $61,503/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
59% lower
488.4 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Glendale
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 94.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Glendale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $310,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,268 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $66,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 22.6% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" | 8.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 248,083 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 57.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 25.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Glendale's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 13 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 13 and Glendale wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $310,000 median home), income ($61,503 vs $66,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Glendale, AZ are about 334 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.