Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 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
Oakland
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $574k less ($310,000 vs $883,800)
75% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $581/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,849)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 60°F
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $28,014/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
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,014 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Glendale
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Violent Crime
75% lower
488.4 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Glendale
Median Home Value
$574k less
$310,000 vs $883,800
Glendale
Summer Heat
33.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$28,014
$94,389 vs $66,375/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 85.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 22.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 14 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 14 and Oakland 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $883,800 median home), income ($66,375 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Oakland, CA are about 634 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.