Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Glendale, AZ
🏆 Glendale leads 15 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Glendale
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $22,837 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Glendale
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $375k less ($310,000 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $713/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,981)
22% less violent crime than Boston
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $22,837/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
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$22,837
$89,212 vs $66,375/yr
Glendale
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Violent Crime
22% lower
488.4 vs 627.9 per 100k
Glendale
Median Home Value
$375k less
$310,000 vs $684,900
Glendale
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
22.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Glendale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,268 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $66,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 22.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 8.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 248,083 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 57.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 25.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Glendale's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 15 of 23 categories. Boston wins 8 and Glendale wins 15. 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 Boston to Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $310,000 median home), income ($89,212 vs $66,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Glendale, AZ are about 2,300 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.