Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Spokane leads 12 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512
Spokane
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Spokane
Households earn $17,903 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Spokane
Spokane, WA
Pros
Homes cost $705k less ($286,900 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $942/mo less ($1,060 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.2%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Glendale by $17,903/yr
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$17,903
$81,219 vs $63,316/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
57% lower
287.2 vs 674.9 per 100k
Spokane
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Spokane
Median Home Value
$705k less
$286,900 vs $992,000
Spokane
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 12 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 11 and Spokane 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $286,900 median home), income ($81,219 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Spokane, WA are about 933 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.