Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 12 of 21 categories
Glendale
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Palmdale
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Palmdale
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 98°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 60°F
Households earn $2,805 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Homes cost $595k less ($397,500 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $377/mo less ($1,625 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (7.4%)
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Longer commutes — 41.3 min average each way
Median income trails Glendale by $2,805/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$2,805
$81,219 vs $78,414/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
48% lower
287.2 vs 551.0 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Palmdale
Median Home Value
$595k less
$397,500 vs $992,000
Palmdale
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
7.4% vs 8.1% unemployment
Palmdale
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Palmdale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $397,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,625⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $78,414 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 23.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 59.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 166,895 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Glendale leads 12 of 21 categories. Glendale wins 12 and Palmdale wins 9. 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $397,500 median home), income ($81,219 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Palmdale, CA are about 29 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.