City comparison
No. Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 135 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Glendale is cheaper. Median rent is $1,528 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Aurora and Glendale. Aurora averages 56°F while Glendale averages 76°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,835 versus $1,528.
Glendale is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Aurora makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Glendale is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Glendale at $1,528 average has pockets that run $1,328 and others at $1,928: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Aurora and Glendale are 591 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,528 a month in Glendale, down $307 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $73,530 in Glendale, down $14,838 (17%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 144 in Glendale, down 68 points (32%).
The move
Glendale and Aurora are 591 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $307 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $88,368 in Aurora, up $14,838 (20%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 212 in Aurora, up 68 points (47%).
Aurora, CO
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 Aurora and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Glendale rent is 17% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Glendale
Winner$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,528 a month in Glendale versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Glendale is 17% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,684, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Glendale still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Aurora.
Planning to buy in Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Aurora's median income is 20% higher than Glendale
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Glendale
$73,530
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $73,530 in Glendale, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Aurora (about $14,838 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Aurora is the stronger labor market on paper. Glendale can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
32% lower crime
Glendale's crime index is 32% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Glendale
Winner144 (100 = avg)
Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% lower in Glendale. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Glendale is the easier city. Aurora can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Glendale weather is 33% more comfortable than Aurora
Aurora
56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Glendale
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora averages about 56°F (65°F highs); Glendale averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Aurora averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Glendale sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Glendale scores 33% 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 Aurora 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 and professional growth
Aurora is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 20% higher here ($88,368). Start with Aurora if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Glendale is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,528 a month. Choose Glendale if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Glendale if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (76°F) beat Aurora on this page's weather index by 33%. Aurora may pay more or cost less, but Glendale is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Glendale is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 32% lower than Aurora (144 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.
Bottom line
Aurora carries the heavier crime signal on this page (37/100 safety vs 49/100 in Glendale). That 12-point spread matters more than the $307 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (49/100 in Glendale vs 37/100 in Aurora), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,528 in Glendale and $1,835 in Aurora.
Pick Glendale when you want the stronger safety signal (49/100). Otherwise, Aurora's case rests on a Aurora ZIP you trust at $1,835 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and Glendale, plus other cities in CO and AZ.
