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Glendale vs Lancaster

Glendale, California versus Lancaster, California: 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

Mixed · objective livability46/100

Lancaster

Mixed · objective livability39/100

Glendale edges out Lancaster on overall objective livability (46 vs 39 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.

Factor-by-factor comparison

FactorGlendaleLancaster
Affordability
Median Household Income$81k$71k
Cost of Living$66k$66k
Home Value$992k$369k
Monthly Rent$2k$2k
Monthly Owner Costs$4k$2k
Property Tax Rate0.63%0.92%
Income Tax13.30%13.30%
Sales Tax8.85%8.85%
Estimated total tax burden23.92%20.99%
Unemployment8.1%7.5%
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)57°F45°F
Summer Temp (Jul)75°F82°F
Annual Precipitation16.7 in7.9 in
Annual Snowfall0.0 in0.0 in
Sunny Days328 days328 days
Summer Humidity42°F42°F
Comfortable Days253 days61 days
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk89.974.3
Air Quality52 AQI50 AQI
School Quality72.360.1
Violent Crime507/100k1780/100k
Property Crime1827/100k1876/100k
Community
Population194,512171,465
Median Age41.133.6
Racial Diversity0.500.73
Male/Female Ratio0.901.01
Political LeaningD+45D+45
White (%)61.5%25.7%
Black (%)1.7%20.7%
Hispanic (%)18.9%45.3%
Asian (%)13.6%4.0%
Other / Multiracial (%)4.3%4.4%
Getting Around
Commute Time28 min31 min
Walkability10.1/2010.2/20
Airport Distance20 mi55 mi
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access88.8%87.8%
Amenities Nearby30.696.53
Park & Nature AccessGoodGood

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 Lancaster more affordable?
Lancaster has the lower cost of living: its index is $66k, compared with Glendale's $66k and Lancaster's $66k. Median rent is $2k in Glendale versus $2k in Lancaster.
Is Glendale or Lancaster safer?
Glendale has the lower violent crime rate. Glendale reports 507/100k and Lancaster reports 1780/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
Are homes cheaper in Glendale or Lancaster?
The median home value is $992k in Glendale and $369k in Lancaster, so homes are more affordable in Lancaster.
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