City comparison
No. Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 135 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,528 in Glendale.
Safety is where San Antonio and Glendale split most clearly. Glendale scores 68 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,528 in Glendale.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. San Antonio 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 San Antonio has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
San Antonio and Glendale are 855 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,528 a month in Glendale, up $204 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $73,530 in Glendale, up $8,474 (13%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 144 in Glendale, down 68 points (32%).
The move
Glendale and San Antonio are 855 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $204 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $8,474 (12%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 212 in San Antonio, up 68 points (47%).
San Antonio, 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 San Antonio and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 13% cheaper than Glendale
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Glendale
$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,528 in Glendale, so San Antonio 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 $2,448, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. San Antonio 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 San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
13% higher
Glendale's median income is 13% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Glendale
Winner$73,530
Median household income is $73,530 in Glendale versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Glendale (about $8,474 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. San Antonio can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
32% lower crime
Glendale's crime index is 32% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Glendale
Winner144 (100 = avg)
Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% 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. San Antonio can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 3% more comfortable than Glendale
San Antonio
Winner72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Glendale
81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Glendale averages around 81°F. San Antonio 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
San Antonio is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,324 a month. Choose San Antonio if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick San Antonio if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (72°F) beat Glendale on this page's weather index by 3%. Glendale may pay more or cost less, but San Antonio 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 32% lower than San Antonio (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 37/100 in San Antonio. Rent is $1,528/month in Glendale and $1,324/month in San Antonio, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Glendale still pays more locally ($73,530 median income vs $65,056), which can offset the lease if your field pays Glendale rates.
Median income is $73,530 in Glendale versus $65,056 in San Antonio.
Between San Antonio and Glendale, Glendale is ahead on safety — 49/100 safety versus 37/100. Lean San Antonio instead when you already know the San Antonio block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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Nearby research
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