Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Huntington Beach leads 14 of 21 categories
Glendale
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76
Population
194,512
Huntington Beach
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
Rent averages $316/mo less ($2,002 vs $2,318)
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $33,528/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.4%)
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,528 more per year on average
28% less violent crime than Glendale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 86°F
Homes cost $15k less ($976,800 vs $992,000)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 85.8°F vs 78.9°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$33,528
$114,747 vs $81,219/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
28% lower
207.3 vs 287.2 per 100k
Huntington Beach
Median Home Value
$15k less
$976,800 vs $992,000
Huntington Beach
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Huntington Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $976,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 93.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 67.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 | 197,481 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.1 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Huntington Beach leads 14 of 21 categories. Glendale wins 7 and Huntington Beach wins 14. 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $976,800 median home), income ($81,219 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Huntington Beach, CA are about 36 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.