City comparison
No. Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 135 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Glendale is cheaper. Median rent is $1,528 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Glendale is significant: $140,970 median household versus $73,530. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,528 in Glendale.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Glendale costs less and San Francisco 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Glendale at $1,528 average has pockets that run $1,328 and others at $1,928: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Glendale are 644 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,528 a month in Glendale, down $948 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $73,530 in Glendale, down $67,440 (48%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 144 in Glendale, down 39 points (21%).
The move
Glendale and San Francisco are 644 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $948 a month (62%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $67,440 (92%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 183 in San Francisco, up 39 points (27%).
San Francisco, CA
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 Francisco and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
38% cheaper
Glendale rent is 38% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Glendale
Winner$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,528 a month in Glendale versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Glendale is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $948/month back in your pocket ($11,376/year). Over five years that's $56,880 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in San Francisco, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Glendale is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
92% higher
San Francisco's median income is 92% higher than Glendale
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Glendale
$73,530
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $73,530 in Glendale, so typical pay runs 92% higher in San Francisco (about $67,440 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, San Francisco 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
21% lower crime
Glendale's crime index is 21% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Glendale
Winner144 (100 = avg)
Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% 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 Francisco can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
San Francisco weather is 3% more comfortable than Glendale
San Francisco
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Glendale
81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Glendale averages around 81°F. San Francisco 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
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 92% higher ($140,970), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 65°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 38% 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 21% lower than San Francisco (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
Glendale is cheaper on rent ($1,528/month vs $2,476), but San Francisco's $140,970 median income beats Glendale's $73,530 by 48%. Remote workers paid on San Francisco scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
San Francisco still pays more locally ($140,970 median income vs $73,530), which can offset the lease if your field pays San Francisco rates.
Safety scores read 42/100 in San Francisco and 49/100 in Glendale.
Most movers who prioritize local pay land in San Francisco; Glendale only makes sense when $1,528/month housing savings outweigh $140,970 median pay in your field.
Common questions
Ready to move to Glendale?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Glendale when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Francisco and Glendale, plus other cities in CA and AZ.
