Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Glendale, AZ
🏆 Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Glendale
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $46,804 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Glendale
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Glendale
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $346k less ($310,000 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $715/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,983)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $46,804/yr
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$46,804
$113,179 vs $66,375/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
55% lower
219.1 vs 488.4 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Glendale
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$346k less
$310,000 vs $655,700
Glendale
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Glendale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,268 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $66,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 22.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 8.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 248,083 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 57.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 25.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Glendale's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 11 and Glendale wins 12. 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 Alexandria to Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $310,000 median home), income ($113,179 vs $66,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Glendale, AZ are about 1,979 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.