Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Goodyear, AZ
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Goodyear leads 18 of 22 categories
Goodyear
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Palmdale
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
67% less violent crime than Palmdale
Households earn $18,893 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 98°F vs 107°F
Rent averages $86/mo less ($1,625 vs $1,711)
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Goodyear by $18,893/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Goodyear
Key Differences at a Glance
Goodyear
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Goodyear
Median Income
$18,893
$97,307 vs $78,414/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
67% lower
182.2 vs 551.0 per 100k
Goodyear
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.4% unemployment
Goodyear
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 97.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Goodyear, AZ | Palmdale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $396,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $1,625⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,307 ✓ Higher | $78,414 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Incito Schools (91326) | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer | 97.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,542 | 166,895 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 66.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Goodyear's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Goodyear is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 18 of 22 categories. Goodyear wins 18 and Palmdale wins 4. 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 Goodyear to Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($396,100 vs $397,500 median home), income ($97,307 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Goodyear, AZ and Palmdale, CA are about 342 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.