Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 17 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083
Mesa
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $84/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,352)
Homes cost $18k less ($310,000 vs $327,700)
Cons
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
Median income trails Mesa by $7,391/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.7%)
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Households earn $7,391 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$18k less
$310,000 vs $327,700
Mesa
Median Income
$7,391
$73,766 vs $66,375/yr
Mesa
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $73,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 9.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 17 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 6 and Mesa wins 17. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $327,700 median home), income ($66,375 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Mesa, AZ are about 29 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.