City comparison
No. Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 135 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,528 in Glendale.
Safety is where Houston and Glendale split most clearly. Glendale scores 126 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,361 in Houston and $1,528 in Glendale.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Houston costs less and Glendale pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Glendale has rougher pockets and Houston has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Houston and Glendale are 1,022 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,528 a month in Glendale, up $167 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $73,530 in Glendale, up $8,717 (13%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 144 in Glendale, down 126 points (47%).
The move
Glendale and Houston are 1,022 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $167 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $64,813 in Houston, down $8,717 (12%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 270 in Houston, up 126 points (88%).
Houston, TX
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 Houston and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Houston rent is 11% cheaper than Glendale
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Glendale
$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,528 in Glendale, so Houston is 11% 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 $2,004, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Houston 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 Houston? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
13% higher
Glendale's median income is 13% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Glendale
Winner$73,530
Median household income is $73,530 in Glendale versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Glendale (about $8,717 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. Houston 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 Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Glendale
Winner144 (100 = avg)
Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 270 in Houston (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. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Houston weather is 3% more comfortable than Glendale
Houston
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Glendale
81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs). Houston sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Glendale averages around 81°F. Houston 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,361 a month. Choose Houston if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Houston if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (70°F) beat Glendale on this page's weather index by 3%. Glendale may pay more or cost less, but Houston is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Glendale is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 13% higher here ($73,530). Start with Glendale if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 Houston (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Glendale: Glendale scores 49/100 versus 30/100 in Houston, with typical rent at $1,528 versus $1,361. I would vet the exact ZIP in Houston before trading 19 safety points for housing savings.
Houston rent at $1,361/month is still below Glendale's $1,528, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,361 in Houston and $1,528 in Glendale.
Pick Glendale when you want the stronger safety signal (49/100). Otherwise, Houston's case rests on a Houston ZIP you trust at $1,361 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Houston?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Houston when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Glendale, plus other cities in TX and AZ.
