Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Spokane
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
28% less violent crime than Spokane
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 38°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Households earn $3,059 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
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
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Spokane, WA
Pros
Rent averages $208/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,268)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 32.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 105°F
Homes cost $23k less ($286,900 vs $310,000)
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Median income trails Glendale by $3,059/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Income
$3,059
$66,375 vs $63,316/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
28% lower
488.4 vs 674.9 per 100k
Glendale
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
17.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane
Median Home Value
$23k less
$286,900 vs $310,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 32.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 227,922 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 12 and Spokane 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $286,900 median home), income ($66,375 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Spokane, WA are about 1,014 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.