Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Glendale leads 15 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083
Washington
District of Columbia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $395k less ($310,000 vs $705,000)
47% less violent crime than Washington
Rent averages $549/mo less ($1,268 vs $1,817)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.7%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $35,347/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
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $35,347 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Violent Crime
47% lower
488.4 vs 925.9 per 100k
Glendale
Median Home Value
$395k less
$310,000 vs $705,000
Glendale
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.1% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
15.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 89.8°F
Washington
Median Income
$35,347
$101,722 vs $66,375/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 15 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 15 and Washington wins 8. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $705,000 median home), income ($66,375 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Washington, DC are about 1,983 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.