Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 14 of 22 categories
Glendale
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Vallejo
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 7.0%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Vallejo
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Homes cost $477k less ($515,500 vs $992,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (7.0%)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Households earn $4,893 more per year on average
Rent averages $108/mo less ($1,894 vs $2,002)
Cons
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 36.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Violent Crime
61% lower
287.2 vs 739.8 per 100k
Vallejo
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Vallejo
Median Income
$4,893
$86,112 vs $81,219/yr
Vallejo
Median Home Value
$477k less
$515,500 vs $992,000
Vallejo
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
7.0% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $515,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,894⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 22.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 21.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 40.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 17.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vallejo is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Glendale leads 14 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 14 and Vallejo wins 8. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $515,500 median home), income ($81,219 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Vallejo, CA are about 352 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.