Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 19 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $269k less ($310,000 vs $578,900)
7% less violent crime than South Gate
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.7%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
More college-educated — 22.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
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
South Gate, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Glendale
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Violent Crime
7% lower
488.4 vs 525.6 per 100k
Glendale
Median Home Value
$269k less
$310,000 vs $578,900
Glendale
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.9% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
22.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 82.0°F
South Gate
Median Income
$813
$67,188 vs $66,375/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $67,188 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 14.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 19 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 19 and South Gate wins 4. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $578,900 median home), income ($66,375 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and South Gate, CA are about 346 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.