Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Glendale leads 12 of 22 categories
Glendale
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083
Seattle
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $570k less ($310,000 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $677/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,945)
37% less violent crime than Seattle
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $49,693/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 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $49,693 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Glendale
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Violent Crime
37% lower
488.4 vs 775.1 per 100k
Glendale
Median Home Value
$570k less
$310,000 vs $879,900
Glendale
Summer Heat
28.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$49,693
$116,068 vs $66,375/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Glendale leads 12 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 12 and Seattle 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $879,900 median home), income ($66,375 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Seattle, WA are about 1,108 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.