City comparison
No. Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 174 in Phoenix, and its violent crime index is 135 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Glendale is cheaper. Median rent is $1,528 a month versus $1,582 in Phoenix.
Phoenix and Glendale 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 $1,582 in Phoenix and $1,528 in Glendale, and median household income lands at $81,332 versus $73,530. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. Phoenix wins on the job market and Glendale wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
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
Phoenix and Glendale are 9 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,582 a month in Phoenix to $1,528 a month in Glendale, down $54 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $81,332 in Phoenix to $73,530 in Glendale, down $7,802 (10%).
The crime index goes from 174 in Phoenix to 144 in Glendale, down 30 points (17%).
The move
Glendale and Phoenix are 9 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,582 a month in Phoenix, up $54 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $81,332 in Phoenix, up $7,802 (11%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 174 in Phoenix, up 30 points (21%).
Phoenix, AZ
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 Phoenix and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Glendale rent is 3% cheaper than Phoenix
Phoenix
$1,582/mo
Glendale
Winner$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,528 a month in Glendale versus $1,582 in Phoenix, so Glendale is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $54, or $648 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 Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Phoenix's median income is 11% higher than Glendale
Phoenix
Winner$81,332
Glendale
$73,530
Median household income is $81,332 in Phoenix versus $73,530 in Glendale, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Phoenix (about $7,802 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, Phoenix 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
17% lower crime
Glendale's crime index is 17% lower than Phoenix
Phoenix
174 (100 = avg)
Glendale
Winner144 (100 = avg)
Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 174 in Phoenix (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 17% 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. Phoenix can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Phoenix and Glendale are about even on typical weather.
Phoenix
81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Glendale
81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Phoenix averages about 81°F (87°F highs); Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs). Phoenix averages around 81°F. Glendale averages around 81°F. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Phoenix is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 11% higher here ($81,332). Start with Phoenix if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Glendale is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 17% lower than Phoenix (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 43/100 in Phoenix, with typical rent at $1,528 versus $1,582. I would vet the exact ZIP in Phoenix before trading 6 safety points for housing savings.
Glendale rent at $1,528/month is still below Phoenix's $1,582, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,528 in Glendale and $1,582 in Phoenix.
Glendale clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Phoenix deserves a serious look only when you already know the Phoenix block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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