Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Vancouver, 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 ✓ Larger
Vancouver
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Vancouver
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,593 more per year on average
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 5.6%)
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Homes cost $589k less ($403,400 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $477/mo less ($1,525 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Glendale by $7,593/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$7,593
$81,219 vs $73,626/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
51% lower
287.2 vs 582.3 per 100k
Glendale
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 85.8°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Vancouver
Median Home Value
$589k less
$403,400 vs $992,000
Vancouver
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $403,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,525⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $73,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 190,700 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Vancouver is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 14 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 14 and Vancouver 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $403,400 median home), income ($81,219 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Vancouver, WA are about 824 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.