Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Riverside leads 12 of 22 categories
Glendale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512
Riverside
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Riverside
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
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
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.1%)
Riverside, CA
Pros
Homes cost $507k less ($485,500 vs $992,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.1%)
Rent averages $291/mo less ($1,711 vs $2,002)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Cons
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Violent Crime
51% lower
287.2 vs 589.7 per 100k
Riverside
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Median Income
$2,229
$83,448 vs $81,219/yr
Riverside
Median Home Value
$507k less
$485,500 vs $992,000
Riverside
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.1% unemployment
Riverside
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 23.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Riverside leads 12 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 10 and Riverside wins 12. 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $485,500 median home), income ($81,219 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Riverside, CA are about 52 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.