Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Glendale
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Midland
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
21% less violent crime than Midland
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Midland
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Midland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $711k less ($280,700 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $602/mo less ($1,400 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (3.2%)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Households earn $9,229 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Violent Crime
21% lower
287.2 vs 364.9 per 100k
Midland
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$9,229
$90,448 vs $81,219/yr
Midland
Median Home Value
$711k less
$280,700 vs $992,000
Midland
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.1% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $280,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 84.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 60.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 132,490 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Glendale wins 11 and Midland 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $280,700 median home), income ($81,219 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Midland, TX are about 945 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.