Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90 ✓ Safer
Population
178,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $352k less ($310,000 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $756/mo less ($1,268 vs $2,024)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 60°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $26,229/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
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,229 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than Glendale
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 105°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Glendale
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$352k less
$310,000 vs $661,700
Glendale
Summer Heat
23.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$26,229
$92,604 vs $66,375/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
30% lower
342.6 vs 488.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 12 and Santa Rosa wins 11. 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 Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $661,700 median home), income ($66,375 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Santa Rosa, CA are about 678 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.