Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 12 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$66,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083
Tucson
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
17% less violent crime than Tucson
Households earn $14,326 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $310,000
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
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($218,200 vs $310,000)
Rent averages $277/mo less ($991 vs $1,268)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Glendale by $14,326/yr
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$14,326
$66,375 vs $52,049/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
17% lower
488.4 vs 588.8 per 100k
Glendale
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.5% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 100.2°F
Tucson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Median Home Value
$92k less
$218,200 vs $310,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 86.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 100.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 12.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 12 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 11 and Tucson wins 12. 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $218,200 median home), income ($66,375 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Tucson, AZ are about 122 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.