City comparison
No. Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 135 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,528 in Glendale.
Safety is where St Louis and Glendale split most clearly. Glendale scores 208 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $997 in St Louis and $1,528 in Glendale.
Glendale is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Louis 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. St Louis at $997 average has pockets that run $797 and others at $1,397: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
St Louis and Glendale are 1,274 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,528 a month in Glendale, up $531 a month (53%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $73,530 in Glendale, up $17,370 (31%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 144 in Glendale, down 208 points (59%).
The move
Glendale and St Louis are 1,274 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $997 a month in St Louis, down $531 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $56,160 in St Louis, down $17,370 (24%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 352 in St Louis, up 208 points (144%).
St Louis, MO
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 St Louis and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
St Louis rent is 35% cheaper than Glendale
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Glendale
$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,528 in Glendale, so St Louis is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $531/month back in your pocket ($6,372/year). Over five years that's $31,860 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 Glendale, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Louis 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
31% higher
Glendale's median income is 31% higher than St Louis
St Louis
$56,160
Glendale
Winner$73,530
Median household income is $73,530 in Glendale versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 31% higher in Glendale (about $17,370 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. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
59% lower crime
Glendale's crime index is 59% lower than St Louis
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Glendale
Winner144 (100 = avg)
Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% 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. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
21% more comfortable
Glendale weather is 21% more comfortable than St Louis
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Glendale
Winner81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs); Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs). St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Glendale averages around 81°F. Glendale scores 21% 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 St Louis if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 35% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
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 31% higher ($73,530), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 81°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Glendale is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 59% lower than St Louis (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
St Louis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (22/100 safety vs 49/100 in Glendale). That 27-point spread matters more than the $531 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Glendale still pays more locally ($73,530 median income vs $56,160), which can offset the lease if your field pays Glendale rates.
Weather averages land near 58°F in St Louis and 81°F in Glendale.
Glendale clears the bar on safety in this dataset. St Louis deserves a serious look only when you already know the St Louis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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