Ideal CityOpen the map

Glendale vs Phoenix

Glendale, Arizona versus Phoenix, Arizona: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.

Overall livability

Glendale

Solid · objective livability50/100

Phoenix

Solid · objective livability52/100

Glendale and Phoenix score about the same overall (50 vs 52 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.

Factor-by-factor comparison

FactorGlendalePhoenix
Affordability
Median Household Income$66k$72k
Cost of Living$57k$57k
Home Value$310k$340k
Monthly Rent$1k$1k
Monthly Owner Costs$2k$2k
Property Tax Rate0.49%0.51%
Income Tax2.50%2.50%
Sales Tax8.38%8.38%
Estimated total tax burden7.54%7.66%
Unemployment5.7%5.2%
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)55°F55°F
Summer Temp (Jul)94°F93°F
Annual Precipitation8.3 in8.6 in
Annual Snowfall0.0 in0.0 in
Sunny Days274 days274 days
Summer Humidity54°F54°F
Comfortable Days114 days113 days
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk71.173.8
Air Quality46 AQI51 AQI
School Quality43.047.6
Violent Crime2186/100k2274/100k
Property Crime3259/100k2902/100k
Community
Population248,0831,609,456
Median Age34.134.4
Racial Diversity0.600.60
Male/Female Ratio0.971.02
Political LeaningEvenEven
White (%)43.6%41.2%
Black (%)6.5%7.0%
Hispanic (%)40.4%42.9%
Asian (%)4.2%3.6%
Other / Multiracial (%)5.3%5.3%
Getting Around
Commute Time28 min26 min
Walkability8.6/2014.4/20
Airport Distance21 mi13 mi
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access85.4%88.5%
Amenities Nearby18.422.47
Park & Nature AccessLimitedModerate

Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.

Frequently asked questions

Is Glendale or Phoenix more affordable?
Phoenix has the lower cost of living: its index is $57k, compared with Glendale's $57k and Phoenix's $57k. Median rent is $1k in Glendale versus $1k in Phoenix.
Is Glendale or Phoenix safer?
Glendale has the lower violent crime rate. Glendale reports 2186/100k and Phoenix reports 2274/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
Are homes cheaper in Glendale or Phoenix?
The median home value is $310k in Glendale and $340k in Phoenix, so homes are more affordable in Glendale.
See each on the map

Explore Glendale →Explore Phoenix →

Full profiles