Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 14 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Simi Valley
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $394k less ($310,000 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $1134/mo less ($1,268 vs $2,402)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $45,769/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 4.4%)
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,769 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Glendale
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 36.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Glendale
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$394k less
$310,000 vs $704,200
Glendale
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 95.1°F
Simi Valley
Median Income
$45,769
$112,144 vs $66,375/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
74% lower
129.1 vs 488.4 per 100k
Simi Valley
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 36.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 95.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 126,153 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 9 and Simi Valley wins 14. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $704,200 median home), income ($66,375 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Simi Valley, CA are about 379 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.