Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 16 of 22 categories
Glendale
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
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
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Surprise
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 4.6%)
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $639k less ($352,600 vs $992,000)
62% less violent crime than Glendale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Rent averages $180/mo less ($1,822 vs $2,002)
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Surprise
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$6,537
$87,756 vs $81,219/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
62% lower
109.1 vs 287.2 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$639k less
$352,600 vs $992,000
Surprise
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
18.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,822⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 41.1 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 16 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 6 and Surprise wins 16. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $352,600 median home), income ($81,219 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Surprise, AZ are about 334 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.