Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Norman 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
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Norman
Oklahoma
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,370 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 50°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 Norman
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $767k less ($224,900 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $998/mo less ($1,004 vs $2,002)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
9% less violent crime than Glendale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $18,370/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$18,370
$81,219 vs $62,849/yr
Norman
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Violent Crime
9% lower
260.2 vs 287.2 per 100k
Norman
Median Home Value
$767k less
$224,900 vs $992,000
Norman
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.1% unemployment
Norman
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $224,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,004 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $62,849 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 37.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 127,701 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 18.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Norman leads 13 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 9 and Norman 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $224,900 median home), income ($81,219 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Norman, OK are about 1,187 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.