Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Glendale to Phoenix
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Glendale has a lower median household income ($73,530) and median gross rent ($1,528) than Phoenix ($81,332 income, $1,582 rent), but a longer derived commute (30 vs. 28 minutes). Phoenix’s calculator includes a 2.50% state individual income-tax reference, while Glendale’s excludes it due to lack of approved state reference. The uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month applies to both as a model assumption. These factors create a trade-off: Glendale offers lower housing costs relative to income but longer commutes and no tax reference in the model, while Phoenix shows higher income and rent with a shorter commute and included tax assumption. Neither city is declared universally better; the comparison highlights how income, housing, commute, and tax treatment interact in affordability modeling.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Phoenix → GlendaleMoving from Glendale to Phoenix
Median Rent Impact
+$54/mo
Moving to Phoenix costs ~$648 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+2.5%
~$2,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in Arizona.
Daily Commute Difference
-2 min / day
Difference of ~17 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
Adjust the assumptions. Every result updates instantly.
Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTGLE → PHX
62/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$8,936after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA balanced income-to-rent profile with a low flat state-tax reference
Watch closelyThe $420,700 home-value benchmark is materially above Dallas despite similar commute time
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Glendale is about $648 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Glendale household income$73,530
Phoenix household income$81,332
Glendale gross rent$1,528
Phoenix gross rent$1,582
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Glendale | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 252,833 | 1,642,323 |
| Median household income | $73,530 | $81,332 |
| Median gross rent | $1,528 | $1,582 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $387,500 | $420,700 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 2.5% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 30 minutes in Glendale and 28 minutes in Phoenix. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Median household income difference
- Median gross rent comparison
- Derived one-way commute estimate
- State individual income-tax treatment in model
What each city wins
Glendale
Median rent consumes roughly a quarter of median income.. Watch lower housing cost burden may be offset by high non-housing essentials per model assumptions..
Phoenix
A balanced income-to-rent profile with a low flat state-tax reference. Watch the $420,700 home-value benchmark is materially above dallas despite similar commute time.
Frequently asked questions
How do housing costs compare between Glendale and Phoenix relative to income?
Glendale’s median gross rent is $54 lower than Phoenix’s, but its median household income is $7,802 lower, resulting in a slightly higher rent-to-income ratio in Glendale despite the lower absolute rent.
Why does the tax treatment differ between the two cities in the model?
Glendale’s profile excludes state individual income tax due to lack of an approved official state reference, while Phoenix uses a simplified 2.50% reference for modeling purposes, which is not a statement of actual tax liability.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.