Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Glendale leads 13 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083
Raleigh
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $37k less ($310,000 vs $347,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 52°F
Rent averages $103/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,371)
Cons
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Raleigh by $12,256/yr
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.5%)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $12,256 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Home Value
$37k less
$310,000 vs $347,000
Glendale
Summer Heat
14.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 90.6°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.6 on the COL index
Raleigh
Median Income
$12,256
$78,631 vs $66,375/yr
Raleigh
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 13 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 13 and Raleigh wins 10. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $347,000 median home), income ($66,375 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Raleigh, NC are about 1,903 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.