City comparison
Yes. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 144 in Glendale, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 135, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Glendale is cheaper. Median rent is $1,528 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
Safety is where Tampa and Glendale split most clearly. Tampa scores 51 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,701 in Tampa and $1,528 in Glendale.
Tampa is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Glendale makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Tampa is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Tampa has rougher pockets and Glendale has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Tampa and Glendale are 1,801 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,528 a month in Glendale, down $173 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $73,530 in Glendale, down $1,945 (3%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 144 in Glendale, up 51 points (55%).
The move
Glendale and Tampa are 1,801 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $173 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $75,475 in Tampa, up $1,945 (3%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 93 in Tampa, down 51 points (35%).
Tampa, 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 Tampa and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Glendale rent is 10% cheaper than Tampa
Tampa
$1,701/mo
Glendale
Winner$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,528 a month in Glendale versus $1,701 in Tampa, so Glendale is 10% 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 $2,076, 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 Tampa.
Planning to buy in Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Tampa's median income is 3% higher than Glendale
Tampa
Winner$75,475
Glendale
$73,530
Median household income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $73,530 in Glendale, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Tampa (about $1,945 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
35% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 35% lower than Glendale
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Glendale
144 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 144 in Glendale (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% lower in Tampa. 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, Tampa is the easier city. Glendale can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Tampa weather is 3% more comfortable than Glendale
Tampa
Winner75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Glendale
81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs); Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs). Tampa sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Glendale averages around 81°F. Tampa 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 3% higher ($75,475), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 75°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 35% lower than Glendale (93 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Glendale
Glendale is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% 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.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Tampa scores 62/100 versus 49/100 in Glendale. Rent is $1,701/month in Tampa and $1,528/month in Glendale, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
With only $173 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $73,530 in Glendale.
Between Tampa and Glendale, Tampa is ahead on safety — 62/100 safety versus 49/100. Lean Glendale instead when you already know the Glendale block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tampa and Glendale, plus other cities in FL and AZ.
