Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Glendale leads 16 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
54% less violent crime than Tacoma
Homes cost $105k less ($310,000 vs $415,300)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Rent averages $221/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,489)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tacoma by $12,710/yr
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $12,710 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Glendale
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Violent Crime
54% lower
488.4 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Glendale
Median Home Value
$105k less
$310,000 vs $415,300
Glendale
Summer Heat
28.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$12,710
$79,085 vs $66,375/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Tacoma, 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 | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 16 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 16 and Tacoma wins 7. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $415,300 median home), income ($66,375 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Tacoma, WA are about 1,089 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.