Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Glendale leads 14 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512
Tacoma
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
73% less violent crime than Tacoma
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°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)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.4%)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $577k less ($415,300 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $513/mo less ($1,489 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 86°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$2,134
$81,219 vs $79,085/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
73% lower
287.2 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Glendale
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 85.8°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$577k less
$415,300 vs $992,000
Tacoma
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Tacoma is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 14 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 14 and Tacoma wins 9. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $415,300 median home), income ($81,219 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Tacoma, WA are about 929 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.