City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 144 in Glendale, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 135, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Glendale is cheaper. Median rent is $1,528 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Safety is where Glendale and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 45 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,528 in Glendale and $1,619 in Irving.
Irving is not a close call here. It leads on 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 Irving is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Irving has rougher pockets and Glendale has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Glendale and Irving are 882 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $91 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $81,830 in Irving, up $8,300 (11%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 99 in Irving, down 45 points (31%).
The move
Irving and Glendale are 882 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,528 a month in Glendale, down $91 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $73,530 in Glendale, down $8,300 (10%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 144 in Glendale, up 45 points (45%).
Glendale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irving, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Glendale and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Glendale rent is 6% cheaper than Irving
Glendale
Winner$1,528/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,528 a month in Glendale versus $1,619 in Irving, so Glendale is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $91, or $1,092 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 Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Irving's median income is 11% higher than Glendale
Glendale
$73,530
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $73,530 in Glendale, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Irving (about $8,300 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, Irving 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
31% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 31% lower than Glendale
Glendale
144 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 144 in Glendale (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% lower in Irving. 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, Irving is the easier city. Glendale can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Irving weather is 3% more comfortable than Glendale
Glendale
81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Irving
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Glendale averages around 81°F. Irving sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Glendale
Glendale is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% 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.
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 11% higher ($81,830), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 70°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Irving is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 31% lower than Glendale (99 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: Irving scores 60/100 versus 49/100 in Glendale. Rent is $1,619/month in Irving and $1,528/month in Glendale, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Glendale rent at $1,528/month is still below Irving's $1,619, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,528 in Glendale and $1,619 in Irving.
Between Glendale and Irving, Irving is ahead on safety — 60/100 safety versus 49/100. Lean Glendale instead when you already know the Glendale block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Glendale and Irving, plus other cities in AZ and TX.
