Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Lubbock, TX
🏆 Glendale leads 12 of 23 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
Lubbock
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
65% less violent crime than Lubbock
Households earn $22,485 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 55°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Lubbock
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $810k less ($181,600 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $909/mo less ($1,093 vs $2,002)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $22,485/yr
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$22,485
$81,219 vs $58,734/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
65% lower
287.2 vs 821.0 per 100k
Lubbock
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$810k less
$181,600 vs $992,000
Lubbock
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Lubbock
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Lubbock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $181,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,093 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $58,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | LUBBOCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 55.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 20.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 7.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 | 258,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 30.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 51.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Lubbock's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 12 and Lubbock 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 Lubbock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $181,600 median home), income ($81,219 vs $58,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Lubbock, TX are about 938 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.