Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Glendale, AZ
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 11 of 20 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673
Glendale
Arizona
9
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.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,001 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 105°F
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 65°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Glendale
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $108k less ($310,000 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $359/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,627)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $9,001/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$9,001
$75,376 vs $66,375/yr
Glendale
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$108k less
$310,000 vs $417,600
Glendale
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Glendale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High | $1,268 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 ✓ Higher | $66,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 128⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 22.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 65.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 8.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 | 248,083 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 57.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 25.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Glendale's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 11 of 20 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 11 and Glendale wins 9. 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 Fort Lauderdale to Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $310,000 median home), income ($75,376 vs $66,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Glendale, AZ are about 1,979 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.