Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Glendale leads 13 of 22 categories
Glendale
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
46% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Households earn $8,838 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 42°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $310,000
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
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $95k less ($215,500 vs $310,000)
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Glendale by $8,838/yr
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Income
$8,838
$66,375 vs $57,537/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
46% lower
488.4 vs 908.7 per 100k
Glendale
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.6% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
15.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 89.3°F
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$95k less
$215,500 vs $310,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 86.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Glendale leads 13 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 13 and Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $215,500 median home), income ($66,375 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Philadelphia, PA are about 2,083 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.