Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Glendale leads 13 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
94,601
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,367 more per year on average
15% less violent crime than Reading
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (8.1%)
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Reading
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $895k less ($96,900 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $1060/mo less ($942 vs $2,002)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $38,367/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 8.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$38,367
$81,219 vs $42,852/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
15% lower
287.2 vs 337.2 per 100k
Glendale
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
8.1% vs 11.3% unemployment
Reading
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Median Home Value
$895k less
$96,900 vs $992,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 39.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 13 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 13 and Reading wins 10. 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $96,900 median home), income ($81,219 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Reading, PA are about 2,343 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.