Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 Irving leads 12 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76
Population
194,512
Irving
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,686
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,533 more per year on average
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 12% higher than Irving
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $733k less ($259,500 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $579/mo less ($1,423 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (4.1%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $4,533/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$4,533
$81,219 vs $76,686/yr
Irving
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Violent Crime
4% lower
275.4 vs 287.2 per 100k
Irving
Median Home Value
$733k less
$259,500 vs $992,000
Irving
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
4.1% vs 8.1% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Irving, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $259,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $76,686 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 14.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 | 254,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 37.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Irving is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 12 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 11 and Irving wins 12. 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 Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $259,500 median home), income ($81,219 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Irving, TX are about 1,227 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.