Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Glendale, AZ
🏆 Austin leads 11 of 21 categories
Austin
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Glendale
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $20,181 more per year on average
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 97°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($310,000 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $281/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,549)
Cons
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Austin by $20,181/yr
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$20,181
$86,556 vs $66,375/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
4% lower
466.9 vs 488.4 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.6 on the COL index
Glendale
Median Home Value
$152k less
$310,000 vs $461,500
Glendale
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 96.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Glendale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,268 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $66,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 22.6% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 8.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 248,083 |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 57.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 25.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Glendale's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Austin leads 11 of 21 categories. Austin wins 11 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 Austin to Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $310,000 median home), income ($86,556 vs $66,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Glendale, AZ are about 875 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.