City comparison
Yes. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 144 in Glendale, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 135, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Glendale is cheaper. Median rent is $1,528 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Virginia Beach and Glendale split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 82 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,528 in Glendale.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Glendale costs less and Virginia Beach 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. Virginia Beach has rougher pockets and Glendale has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Virginia Beach and Glendale are 2,045 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,528 a month in Glendale, down $186 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $73,530 in Glendale, down $19,438 (21%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 144 in Glendale, up 82 points (132%).
The move
Glendale and Virginia Beach are 2,045 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $186 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $19,438 (26%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 82 points (57%).
Virginia Beach, VA
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 Virginia Beach and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Glendale rent is 11% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Glendale
Winner$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,528 a month in Glendale versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Glendale is 11% 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 $2,232, 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 Virginia Beach.
Planning to buy in Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
26% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 26% higher than Glendale
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Glendale
$73,530
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $73,530 in Glendale, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Virginia Beach (about $19,438 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, Virginia Beach 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
57% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 57% lower than Glendale
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Glendale
144 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 144 in Glendale (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% lower in Virginia Beach. 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, Virginia Beach 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
20% more comfortable
Glendale weather is 20% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Glendale
Winner76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs); Glendale averages about 76°F (81°F highs). Virginia Beach averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Glendale sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Glendale scores 20% 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 Virginia Beach 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 and professional growth
Virginia Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 26% higher here ($92,968). Start with Virginia Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Virginia Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 57% lower than Glendale (62 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Glendale is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% 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.
Pick Glendale if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (76°F) beat Virginia Beach on this page's weather index by 20%. Virginia Beach may pay more or cost less, but Glendale is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Glendale carries the heavier crime signal on this page (49/100 safety vs 75/100 in Virginia Beach). That 26-point spread matters more than the $186 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (75/100 in Virginia Beach vs 49/100 in Glendale), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $73,530 in Glendale.
If safety drives your move, Virginia Beach is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 49/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Glendale, treat $1,528/month rent and $73,530 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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