City comparison
Yes. Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 169 in Richmond, and its violent crime index is 135 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Richmond is cheaper. Median rent is $1,372 a month versus $1,528 in Glendale.
Glendale and Richmond 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 $1,528 in Glendale and $1,372 in Richmond, and median household income lands at $73,530 versus $64,587. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Glendale is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Richmond 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.
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
Glendale and Richmond are 1,961 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,372 a month in Richmond, down $156 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $64,587 in Richmond, down $8,943 (12%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 169 in Richmond, up 25 points (17%).
The move
Richmond and Glendale are 1,961 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,528 a month in Glendale, up $156 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $73,530 in Glendale, up $8,943 (14%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 144 in Glendale, down 25 points (15%).
Glendale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Glendale and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Richmond rent is 10% cheaper than Glendale
Glendale
$1,528/mo
Richmond
Winner$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,372 a month in Richmond versus $1,528 in Glendale, so Richmond is 10% 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 $1,872, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Richmond still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Glendale.
Planning to buy in Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Glendale's median income is 14% higher than Richmond
Glendale
Winner$73,530
Richmond
$64,587
Median household income is $73,530 in Glendale versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Glendale (about $8,943 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. Richmond can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
15% lower crime
Glendale's crime index is 15% lower than Richmond
Glendale
Winner144 (100 = avg)
Richmond
169 (100 = avg)
Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 169 in Richmond (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% 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 Richmond. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
24% more comfortable
Glendale weather is 24% more comfortable than Richmond
Glendale
Winner81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Richmond
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Glendale averages around 81°F. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. 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 Richmond 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 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 15% lower than Richmond (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Richmond
Richmond is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,372 a month. Choose Richmond if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
On weather alone, Glendale is the warmer market (81°F) and Richmond the cooler (57°F). Typical leases run $1,528 and $1,372; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Richmond rent at $1,372/month is still below Glendale's $1,528, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $73,530 in Glendale versus $64,587 in Richmond.
Glendale wins on climate (81°F vs 57°F); Richmond is the better fit if $1,372 rent and $64,587 pay matter more than daily weather.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Glendale and Richmond, plus other cities in AZ and VA.
