Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 14 of 22 categories
Glendale
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Cost of living runs 16% higher than San Tan Valley
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $688k less ($304,000 vs $992,000)
18% less violent crime than Glendale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Rent averages $273/mo less ($1,729 vs $2,002)
Cons
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$7,247
$88,466 vs $81,219/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
18% lower
235.7 vs 287.2 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$688k less
$304,000 vs $992,000
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.1% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,729⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 14 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 8 and San Tan Valley wins 14. 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 Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $304,000 median home), income ($81,219 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 390 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.