City comparison
Glendale is safer than Cleveland. Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 135 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,528 in Glendale.
Safety is where Cleveland and Glendale split most clearly. Glendale scores 197 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,060 in Cleveland and $1,528 in Glendale.
Glendale is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Cleveland 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. Cleveland at $1,060 average has pockets that run $860 and others at $1,460: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Cleveland and Glendale are 1,749 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,528 a month in Glendale, up $468 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $73,530 in Glendale, up $9,062 (14%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 144 in Glendale, down 197 points (58%).
The move
Glendale and Cleveland are 1,749 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $468 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $9,062 (12%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 341 in Cleveland, up 197 points (137%).
Cleveland, OH
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 Cleveland and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 31% cheaper than Glendale
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Glendale
$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,528 in Glendale, so Cleveland is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $468/month back in your pocket ($5,616/year). Over five years that's $28,080 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Glendale, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Cleveland is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Glendale's median income is 14% higher than Cleveland
Cleveland
$64,468
Glendale
Winner$73,530
Median household income is $73,530 in Glendale versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Glendale (about $9,062 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, Glendale is the stronger labor market on paper. Cleveland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
58% lower crime
Glendale's crime index is 58% lower than Cleveland
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Glendale
Winner144 (100 = avg)
Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 58% 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. Cleveland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
24% more comfortable
Glendale weather is 24% more comfortable than Cleveland
Cleveland
57°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 78/100
Glendale
Winner81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Cleveland averages about 57°F (62°F highs); Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs). Cleveland averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Glendale averages around 81°F. Glendale scores 24% 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 Cleveland if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Cleveland
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 31% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 14% higher ($73,530), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 81°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Glendale is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 58% lower than Cleveland (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
Safety is the widest gap: Glendale scores 49/100 versus 23/100 in Cleveland. Rent is $1,528/month in Glendale and $1,060/month in Cleveland, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (49/100 in Glendale vs 23/100 in Cleveland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,060 in Cleveland and $1,528 in Glendale.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Glendale; Cleveland only makes sense when you have walked the Cleveland ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,060 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Cleveland and Glendale, plus other cities in OH and AZ.
