Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Glendale to Phoenix
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Glendale, CA has a higher median household income ($88,393) and significantly higher median home value ($1,102,300) than Phoenix, AZ ($81,332 income, $420,700 home value), but also higher median gross rent ($2,182 vs $1,582). Glendale’s commute is slightly longer at 30 minutes versus Phoenix’s 28 minutes. Phoenix applies a simplified 2.50% state individual income tax in the calculator, while Glendale’s state tax is excluded per profile constraints. The uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month applies to both. This reflects a trade-off: Glendale offers higher income and home values but at substantially higher housing costs, while Phoenix provides lower housing expenses and a shorter commute with a modest tax assumption.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Phoenix → GlendaleMoving from Glendale to Phoenix
Median Rent Impact
-$600/mo
Moving to Phoenix saves ~$7,200/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.
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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
71/ 100
Worth serious consideration
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$16,784after 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, Phoenix is about $7,200 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$88,393
Phoenix household income$81,332
Glendale gross rent$2,182
Phoenix gross rent$1,582
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Glendale | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 190,748 | 1,642,323 |
| Median household income | $88,393 | $81,332 |
| Median gross rent | $2,182 | $1,582 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $1,102,300 | $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
- Median gross rent
- Median owner-occupied home value
- One-way commute time
- State individual income tax treatment
- Uniform non-housing cost baseline
What each city wins
Glendale
Median rent consumes nearly 30% of median income.. Watch high home values reflect strong demand but limit entry for moderate-income buyers..
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?
Glendale’s median gross rent is $2,182 per month, which is $600 higher than Phoenix’s $1,582. Similarly, Glendale’s median home value is $1,102,300, more than double Phoenix’s $420,700, indicating substantially higher housing costs in Glendale across both rental and ownership markets.
What is the difference in commute times and tax treatment between the two cities?
Glendale’s average one-way commute is 30 minutes, two minutes longer than Phoenix’s 28 minutes. Phoenix uses a simplified 2.50% state individual income tax in the calculator, while Glendale’s state tax is intentionally excluded per data profile rules and not inferred.
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.