Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 13 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $554/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $43k less ($310,000 vs $352,600)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Cons
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Surprise by $21,381/yr
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.6%)
Surprise, AZ
Pros
78% less violent crime than Glendale
Households earn $21,381 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Glendale
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$43k less
$310,000 vs $352,600
Surprise
Median Income
$21,381
$87,756 vs $66,375/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
78% lower
109.1 vs 488.4 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 104.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 9.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 13 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 10 and Surprise wins 13. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $352,600 median home), income ($66,375 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Surprise, AZ are about 18 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.