Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Glendale, AZ
🏆 Glendale leads 16 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Glendale
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375 ✓ Higher
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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
13% less violent crime than Glendale
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
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 $287k less ($310,000 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $337/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,605)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.7%)
Households earn $6,446 more per year on average
More college-educated — 22.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
El Monte
Violent Crime
13% lower
423.2 vs 488.4 per 100k
Glendale
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Income
$6,446
$66,375 vs $59,929/yr
Glendale
Median Home Value
$287k less
$310,000 vs $597,200
Glendale
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.0% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
19.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Glendale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,268 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $66,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 22.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 84.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 65.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" | 8.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 248,083 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 57.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 25.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte'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 16 of 23 categories. El Monte wins 7 and Glendale wins 16. 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 El Monte to Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $310,000 median home), income ($59,929 vs $66,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Glendale, AZ are about 337 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.