Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $250k less ($310,000 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $873/mo less ($1,268 vs $2,141)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $40,389/yr
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
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,389 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Glendale
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 26.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Glendale
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$250k less
$310,000 vs $560,400
Glendale
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 95.0°F
Vacaville
Median Income
$40,389
$106,764 vs $66,375/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
40% lower
293.2 vs 488.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 12 and Vacaville 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $560,400 median home), income ($66,375 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Vacaville, CA are about 640 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.