Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
New York, NY
🏆 Glendale leads 15 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512
New York
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,607
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
57% less violent crime than New York
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,612 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than New York
New York, NY
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($732,100 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $288/mo less ($1,714 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (7.6%)
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Cons
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Longer commutes — 41.1 min average each way
Median income trails Glendale by $4,612/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$4,612
$81,219 vs $76,607/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
57% lower
287.2 vs 671.0 per 100k
New York
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
New York
Median Home Value
$260k less
$732,100 vs $992,000
New York
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
7.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $732,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,714⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $76,607 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ 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 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
New York is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 15 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 15 and New York wins 8. 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 New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $732,100 median home), income ($81,219 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and New York, NY are about 2,446 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.