Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Hemet, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 12 of 22 categories
Glendale
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Hemet
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,318 more per year on average
32% less violent crime than Hemet
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (8.1%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Hemet
Hemet, CA
Pros
Homes cost $715k less ($277,200 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $645/mo less ($1,357 vs $2,002)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Smaller class sizes — 21.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $31,318/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 8.1%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$31,318
$81,219 vs $49,901/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
32% lower
287.2 vs 424.8 per 100k
Glendale
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
8.1% vs 9.5% unemployment
Hemet
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hemet
Median Home Value
$715k less
$277,200 vs $992,000
Hemet
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Hemet, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $277,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $49,901 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 36.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 13.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 79.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Hemet Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 65.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 89,651 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 39.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 61.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% | 22.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Hemet's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Hemet is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Glendale leads 12 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 12 and Hemet wins 10. 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 Hemet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $277,200 median home), income ($81,219 vs $49,901), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Hemet, CA are about 78 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.