Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Glendale, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 12 of 22 categories
Fresno
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Glendale
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $670k less ($321,800 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $775/mo less ($1,227 vs $2,002)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Smaller class sizes — 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Glendale by $18,218/yr
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 8.1%)
Glendale, CA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Fresno
Households earn $18,218 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (8.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 55°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fresno
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$670k less
$321,800 vs $992,000
Fresno
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 85.8°F
Glendale
Median Income
$18,218
$81,219 vs $63,001/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
61% lower
287.2 vs 735.5 per 100k
Glendale
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
8.1% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Glendale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $992,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $81,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 16.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 43.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Glendale Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 85.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 194,512 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 41.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Glendale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Glendale leads 12 of 22 categories. Fresno wins 10 and Glendale wins 12. 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 Fresno to Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $992,000 median home), income ($63,001 vs $81,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Glendale, CA are about 200 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.