Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512
Tucson
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,170 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than Tucson
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Tucson
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $774k less ($218,200 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $1011/mo less ($991 vs $2,002)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.5%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $29,170/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$29,170
$81,219 vs $52,049/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
51% lower
287.2 vs 588.8 per 100k
Tucson
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Median Home Value
$774k less
$218,200 vs $992,000
Tucson
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.1% unemployment
Tucson
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 66.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 15.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 12 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 12 and Tucson wins 11. 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $218,200 median home), income ($81,219 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Tucson, AZ are about 449 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.