City comparison
Glendale is safer than Chicago. Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 135 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Chicago is cheaper. Median rent is $1,440 a month versus $1,528 in Glendale.
Chicago 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 $1,440 in Chicago and $1,528 in Glendale, and median household income lands at $77,902 versus $73,530. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Chicago is the easier city on typical rent, but Glendale can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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
Chicago and Glendale are 1,453 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,528 a month in Glendale, up $88 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $73,530 in Glendale, down $4,372 (6%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 144 in Glendale, down 23 points (14%).
The move
Glendale and Chicago are 1,453 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,440 a month in Chicago, down $88 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $77,902 in Chicago, up $4,372 (6%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 167 in Chicago, up 23 points (16%).
Chicago, IL
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 Chicago and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Chicago rent is 6% cheaper than Glendale
Chicago
Winner$1,440/mo
Glendale
$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,440 a month in Chicago versus $1,528 in Glendale, so Chicago is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $88, or $1,056 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 Chicago? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Chicago's median income is 6% higher than Glendale
Chicago
Winner$77,902
Glendale
$73,530
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $73,530 in Glendale, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Chicago (about $4,372 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
14% lower crime
Glendale's crime index is 14% lower than Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
Glendale
Winner144 (100 = avg)
Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 14% lower in Glendale. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Glendale, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Chicago. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
21% more comfortable
Glendale weather is 21% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
58°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 80/100
Glendale
Winner81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Chicago averages about 58°F (65°F highs); Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs). Chicago averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Glendale averages around 81°F. Glendale scores 21% 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 Chicago 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
Chicago is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,440 a month. Choose Chicago if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Chicago is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($77,902). Start with Chicago 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
Pick Glendale if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (81°F) beat Chicago on this page's weather index by 21%. Chicago 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 14% lower than Chicago (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
Weather separates these metros: $1,528/month rent in Glendale at 81°F versus $1,440 in Chicago at 58°F. Income runs $73,530 vs $77,902, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
With only $88 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $73,530 in Glendale.
Between Chicago and Glendale, Glendale is ahead on climate — 81°F typical weather versus 58°F. Lean Chicago instead when you would rather tolerate 58°F than optimize for Glendale's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Chicago and Glendale, plus other cities in IL and AZ.
