Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 17 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Ontario
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($310,000 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $558/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,826)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 22.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Ontario by $11,695/yr
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Ontario, CA
Pros
44% less violent crime than Glendale
Households earn $11,695 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Glendale
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$203k less
$310,000 vs $513,000
Glendale
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 93.8°F
Ontario
Median Income
$11,695
$78,070 vs $66,375/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
44% lower
272.2 vs 488.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 87 ✓ 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 | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 11.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 176,326 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 17 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 17 and Ontario wins 6. 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $513,000 median home), income ($66,375 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Ontario, CA are about 313 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.