City comparison
No. Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 135 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Glendale is cheaper. Median rent is $1,528 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
Safety is where Denver and Glendale split most clearly. Glendale scores 127 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver and $1,528 in Glendale.
Glendale is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Denver 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
Denver and Glendale are 585 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,528 a month in Glendale, down $303 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $73,530 in Glendale, down $21,188 (22%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 144 in Glendale, down 127 points (47%).
The move
Glendale and Denver are 585 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $303 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $94,718 in Denver, up $21,188 (29%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 271 in Denver, up 127 points (88%).
Denver, 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 Denver and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Glendale rent is 17% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Glendale
Winner$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,528 a month in Glendale versus $1,831 in Denver, 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 $3,636, 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 Denver.
Planning to buy in Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
29% higher
Denver's median income is 29% higher than Glendale
Denver
Winner$94,718
Glendale
$73,530
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $73,530 in Glendale, so typical pay runs 29% higher in Denver (about $21,188 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, Denver 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
47% lower crime
Glendale's crime index is 47% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Glendale
Winner144 (100 = avg)
Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
5% more comfortable
Glendale weather is 5% more comfortable than Denver
Denver
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Glendale
Winner81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Glendale averages around 81°F. Glendale scores 5% 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 Denver 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
Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 29% higher here ($94,718). Start with Denver 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 (81°F) beat Denver on this page's weather index by 5%. Denver 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 47% lower than Denver (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
Denver carries the heavier crime signal on this page (30/100 safety vs 49/100 in Glendale). That 19-point spread matters more than the $303 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (49/100 in Glendale vs 30/100 in Denver), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,528 in Glendale and $1,831 in Denver.
Pick Glendale when you want the stronger safety signal (49/100). Otherwise, Denver's case rests on a Denver ZIP you trust at $1,831 rent.
Common questions
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