City comparison
No. Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 135 versus 241, using 2022 FBI data for Orlando and 2024-2025 FBI data for Glendale.
Glendale is cheaper. Median rent is $1,528 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Safety is where Orlando and Glendale split most clearly. Glendale scores 98 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,747 in Orlando and $1,528 in Glendale.
Glendale is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Orlando 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 crime gap is citywide. Glendale has rougher pockets and Orlando has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Orlando and Glendale are 1,849 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,528 a month in Glendale, down $219 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $73,530 in Glendale, up $1,194 (2%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 144 in Glendale, down 98 points (40%).
The move
Glendale and Orlando are 1,849 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $219 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $72,336 in Orlando, down $1,194 (2%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 242 in Orlando, up 98 points (68%).
Orlando, FL
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 Orlando and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Glendale rent is 13% cheaper than Orlando
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Glendale
Winner$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,528 a month in Glendale versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Glendale is 13% 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 $2,628, 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 Orlando.
Planning to buy in Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Glendale's median income is 2% higher than Orlando
Orlando
$72,336
Glendale
Winner$73,530
Median household income is $73,530 in Glendale versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Glendale (about $1,194 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
40% lower crime
Glendale's crime index is 40% lower than Orlando
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Glendale
Winner144 (100 = avg)
Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 40% 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. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 3% more comfortable than Glendale
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Glendale
81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Orlando averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs). Orlando sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Glendale averages around 81°F. Orlando 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
Pick Orlando if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat Glendale on this page's weather index by 3%. Glendale may pay more or cost less, but Orlando is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Glendale is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% 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.
Glendale is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% 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 40% lower than Orlando (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 33/100 in Orlando. Rent is $1,528/month in Glendale and $1,747/month in Orlando, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (49/100 in Glendale vs 33/100 in Orlando), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 71°F in Orlando and 81°F in Glendale.
Glendale is ahead on safety (49/100 vs 33/100); Orlando is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,747/month rent plus $72,336 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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