Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Huntington Beach leads 13 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Huntington Beach
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $667k less ($310,000 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $1050/mo less ($1,268 vs $2,318)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $48,372/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
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,372 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Glendale
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Glendale
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$667k less
$310,000 vs $976,800
Glendale
Summer Heat
26.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$48,372
$114,747 vs $66,375/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
58% lower
207.3 vs 488.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Huntington Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 93.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 11.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 197,481 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntington Beach leads 13 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 10 and Huntington Beach wins 13. 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $976,800 median home), income ($66,375 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Huntington Beach, CA are about 335 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.