Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Glendale, AZ
🏆 Carlsbad leads 12 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Glendale
Arizona
11
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.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $67,764 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Glendale
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Glendale
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $761k less ($310,000 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1209/mo less ($1,268 vs $2,477)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $67,764/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
Carlsbad
Median Income
$67,764
$134,139 vs $66,375/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
59% lower
199.1 vs 488.4 per 100k
Glendale
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$761k less
$310,000 vs $1,070,500
Glendale
Summer Heat
30.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Glendale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,268 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $66,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 22.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" | 8.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 248,083 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 57.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 25.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Glendale's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 12 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 12 and Glendale wins 11. 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 Carlsbad to Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $310,000 median home), income ($134,139 vs $66,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Glendale, AZ are about 295 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.