Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 15 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083
Virginia Beach
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $300/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,568)
Homes cost $34k less ($310,000 vs $343,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 50°F
Cons
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $21,169/yr
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
81% less violent crime than Glendale
Households earn $21,169 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Home Value
$34k less
$310,000 vs $343,700
Glendale
Summer Heat
17.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 87.4°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.6 on the COL index
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$21,169
$87,544 vs $66,375/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
81% lower
92.3 vs 488.4 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 15 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 8 and Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $343,700 median home), income ($66,375 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Virginia Beach, VA are about 2,043 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.