Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Glendale
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $355k less ($310,000 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $786/mo less ($1,268 vs $2,054)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $29,844/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
West Covina, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Glendale
Households earn $29,844 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 29.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Glendale
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$355k less
$310,000 vs $664,500
Glendale
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.7% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 90.3°F
West Covina
Median Income
$29,844
$96,219 vs $66,375/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
51% lower
239.3 vs 488.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 29.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Glendale wins 11 and West Covina 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $664,500 median home), income ($66,375 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and West Covina, CA are about 330 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.