Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 15 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083
Tampa
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $154/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,422)
Homes cost $23k less ($310,000 vs $333,200)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
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
Tampa, FL
Pros
9% less violent crime than Glendale
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.2%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 105°F
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 65°F
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Glendale
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$23k less
$310,000 vs $333,200
Glendale
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 91.0°F
Tampa
Violent Crime
9% lower
444.6 vs 488.4 per 100k
Tampa
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 15 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 8 and Tampa wins 15. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $333,200 median home), income ($66,375 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Tampa, FL are about 1,799 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.