Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Palmdale, 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
Palmdale
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
11% less violent crime than Palmdale
Homes cost $88k less ($310,000 vs $397,500)
Rent averages $357/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,625)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.7%)
Cons
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Palmdale by $12,039/yr
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,039 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 98°F vs 105°F
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Glendale
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Violent Crime
11% lower
488.4 vs 551.0 per 100k
Glendale
Median Home Value
$88k less
$310,000 vs $397,500
Glendale
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.4% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 97.6°F
Palmdale
Median Income
$12,039
$78,414 vs $66,375/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Palmdale, 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 | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $78,414 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 97.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 166,895 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 16 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 16 and Palmdale 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $397,500 median home), income ($66,375 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Palmdale, CA are about 346 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.