Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Norwalk leads 13 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Median income trails Norwalk by $16,660/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.9%)
Norwalk, CT
Pros
Homes cost $500k less ($491,800 vs $992,000)
70% less violent crime than Glendale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $16,660 more per year on average
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Norwalk
Median Income
$16,660
$97,879 vs $81,219/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
70% lower
85.0 vs 287.2 per 100k
Norwalk
Median Home Value
$500k less
$491,800 vs $992,000
Norwalk
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $491,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,861⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 42.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 40.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 19.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Norwalk is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 13 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 10 and Norwalk 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $491,800 median home), income ($81,219 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Norwalk, CT are about 2,471 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.