Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 16 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Modesto
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
26% less violent crime than Modesto
Homes cost $72k less ($310,000 vs $381,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.7%)
Rent averages $229/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,497)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Modesto
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 56°F
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 Modesto by $7,000/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Modesto, CA
Pros
Households earn $7,000 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 105°F
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Violent Crime
26% lower
488.4 vs 655.7 per 100k
Glendale
Median Home Value
$72k less
$310,000 vs $381,800
Glendale
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.8% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 95.0°F
Modesto
Median Income
$7,000
$73,375 vs $66,375/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 12.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 218,308 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 16 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 16 and Modesto wins 7. 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 Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $381,800 median home), income ($66,375 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Modesto, CA are about 570 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.