Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Glendale, CA
🏆 Germantown leads 12 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Glendale
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Homes cost $598k less ($393,700 vs $992,000)
Households earn $28,049 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Glendale, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Median income trails Germantown by $28,049/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Germantown
Median Income
$28,049
$109,268 vs $81,219/yr
Germantown
Median Home Value
$598k less
$393,700 vs $992,000
Germantown
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Glendale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $992,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $81,219 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 76 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Glendale Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 194,512 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 41.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Glendale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Germantown is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Germantown leads 12 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 12 and Glendale wins 8. 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 Germantown to Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $992,000 median home), income ($109,268 vs $81,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Glendale, CA are about 2,278 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.