Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Salt Lake City leads 12 of 22 categories
Glendale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512
Salt Lake City
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 40°F
Households earn $8,862 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Salt Lake City
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Homes cost $533k less ($458,600 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $748/mo less ($1,254 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (3.6%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Glendale by $8,862/yr
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$8,862
$81,219 vs $72,357/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
67% lower
287.2 vs 864.2 per 100k
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Home Value
$533k less
$458,600 vs $992,000
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
3.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $458,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $72,357 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 18.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Salt Lake City leads 12 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 10 and Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $458,600 median home), income ($81,219 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Salt Lake City, UT are about 572 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.