Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
New York, NY
🏆 Glendale leads 14 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083
New York
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $422k less ($310,000 vs $732,100)
27% less violent crime than New York
Rent averages $446/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,714)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.7%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Cons
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New York by $10,232/yr
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
New York, NY
Pros
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $10,232 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Glendale
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Violent Crime
27% lower
488.4 vs 671.0 per 100k
Glendale
Median Home Value
$422k less
$310,000 vs $732,100
Glendale
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
20.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 84.8°F
New York
Median Income
$10,232
$76,607 vs $66,375/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 40.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 14 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 14 and New York wins 9. 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 New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $732,100 median home), income ($66,375 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and New York, NY are about 2,147 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.