Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 13 of 22 categories
Glendale
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512
Mesa
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Mesa
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 106°F
Households earn $7,453 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Mesa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $664k less ($327,700 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $650/mo less ($1,352 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.7%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Glendale by $7,453/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$7,453
$81,219 vs $73,766/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
41% lower
287.2 vs 482.7 per 100k
Mesa
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Home Value
$664k less
$327,700 vs $992,000
Mesa
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.1% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
20.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $73,766 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 14.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 67.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 16.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mesa leads 13 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 9 and Mesa wins 13. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $327,700 median home), income ($81,219 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Mesa, AZ are about 379 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.