Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Glendale, AZ
🏆 Glendale leads 18 of 23 categories
East Los Angeles
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High
Population
117,222
Glendale
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Glendale
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $272k less ($310,000 vs $582,400)
13% less violent crime than East Los Angeles
18% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 22.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $101/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,369)
Cons
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
Glendale
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Income
$2,256
$66,375 vs $64,119/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
13% lower
488.4 vs 558.4 per 100k
Glendale
Median Home Value
$272k less
$310,000 vs $582,400
Glendale
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
22.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Glendale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,268 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 | $66,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 22.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 84.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 65.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" | 8.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 | 248,083 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 57.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 25.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Glendale's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 18 of 23 categories. East Los Angeles wins 5 and Glendale wins 18. 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 East Los Angeles to Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $310,000 median home), income ($64,119 vs $66,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Glendale, AZ are about 345 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.