Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 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
San Antonio
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
52% less violent crime than San Antonio
Households earn $21,626 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 63°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than San Antonio
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $794k less ($198,000 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $813/mo less ($1,189 vs $2,002)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $21,626/yr
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$21,626
$81,219 vs $59,593/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
52% lower
287.2 vs 594.1 per 100k
San Antonio
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$794k less
$198,000 vs $992,000
San Antonio
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.1% unemployment
San Antonio
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $198,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,189 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 24.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 34.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 13 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 13 and San Antonio 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 San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $198,000 median home), income ($81,219 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and San Antonio, TX are about 1,201 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.