City comparison
Yes. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 144 in Glendale, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 135, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Arlington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,470 a month versus $1,528 in Glendale.
Arlington and Glendale are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,470 in Arlington and $1,528 in Glendale, and median household income lands at $75,171 versus $73,530. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Arlington is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Glendale makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Arlington is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Arlington and Glendale are 873 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,528 a month in Glendale, up $58 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $73,530 in Glendale, down $1,641 (2%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 144 in Glendale, up 12 points (9%).
The move
Glendale and Arlington are 873 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,470 a month in Arlington, down $58 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $75,171 in Arlington, up $1,641 (2%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 132 in Arlington, down 12 points (8%).
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Glendale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Arlington and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Arlington rent is 4% cheaper than Glendale
Arlington
Winner$1,470/mo
Glendale
$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,470 a month in Arlington versus $1,528 in Glendale, so Arlington is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $58, or $696 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Arlington's median income is 2% higher than Glendale
Arlington
Winner$75,171
Glendale
$73,530
Median household income is $75,171 in Arlington versus $73,530 in Glendale, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Arlington (about $1,641 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
8% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 8% lower than Glendale
Arlington
Winner132 (100 = avg)
Glendale
144 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 144 in Glendale (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 8% lower in Arlington. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Arlington, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Glendale. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Arlington weather is 3% more comfortable than Glendale
Arlington
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Glendale
81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs). Arlington sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Glendale averages around 81°F. Arlington scores 3% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Glendale if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Arlington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $1,470 a month. Choose Arlington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 2% higher ($75,171), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Arlington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 8% lower than Glendale (132 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Glendale
On these five categories Arlington takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Glendale because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Glendale only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Bottom line
Arlington (67°F) and Glendale (81°F) are not interchangeable on climate — about 14°F apart on typical temperatures. Rent ($1,470 vs $1,528) and pay ($75,171 vs $73,530) still matter, yet most movers regret ignoring the forecast row.
With only $58 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,470 in Arlington and $1,528 in Glendale.
If climate drives your move, Arlington is the stronger match (67°F typical weather versus 81°F). If an employer or family tie already points to Glendale, treat $1,528/month rent and $73,530 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Arlington?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Arlington when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Arlington and Glendale, plus other cities in TX and AZ.
