Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine 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
Irvine
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $716k less ($310,000 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1481/mo less ($1,268 vs $2,749)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $56,573/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
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,573 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Glendale
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 105°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/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
$716k less
$310,000 vs $1,025,700
Glendale
Summer Heat
19.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$56,573
$122,948 vs $66,375/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
83% lower
84.0 vs 488.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Irvine, 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 | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 14.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 13 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 10 and Irvine 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($66,375 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Irvine, CA are about 321 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.