Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 15 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $538k less ($310,000 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $880/mo less ($1,268 vs $2,148)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $42,960/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
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.7%)
Orange, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,960 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Glendale
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Glendale
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$538k less
$310,000 vs $848,200
Glendale
Summer Heat
22.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Median Income
$42,960
$109,335 vs $66,375/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
54% lower
226.1 vs 488.4 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 15 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 8 and Orange wins 15. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $848,200 median home), income ($66,375 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Orange, CA are about 327 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.