Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Glendale leads 12 of 21 categories
Glendale
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.7%)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Households earn $3,364 more per year on average
Cons
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
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Worcester, MA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Glendale
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.7%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Glendale
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Median income trails Glendale by $3,364/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Income
$3,364
$66,375 vs $63,011/yr
Glendale
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
25.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 488.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 85.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Glendale leads 12 of 21 categories. Glendale wins 12 and Worcester wins 9. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $305,600 median home), income ($66,375 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Worcester, MA are about 2,260 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.