Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 23 categories
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
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $327k less ($310,000 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1085/mo less ($1,268 vs $2,353)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 45°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $81,852/yr
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
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.4%)
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $81,852 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Glendale
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Glendale
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$327k less
$310,000 vs $637,400
Glendale
Summer Heat
17.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 87.3°F
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$81,852
$148,227 vs $66,375/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
72% lower
138.1 vs 488.4 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 18.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 9 and Highlands Ranch wins 14. 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 Glendale to Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $637,400 median home), income ($66,375 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 577 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.