Head to head
Glendale, AZ vs Tempe, AZ
Glendale is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $177/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $4,000 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Tempe is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Glendale62 | Tempe56 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $4,015 | $4,192 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $9,549 | $9,401 |
| Salary for comfort | $72,000/yr | $76,000/yr |
| Typical rent | $1,397 | $1,623 |
| Median home value | $347,000 | $421,900 |
| Median household income | $70,139 | $77,643 |
| Unemployment | 5.1% | 4.8% |
| Housing score | 58 | 45 |
| Jobs score | 14 | 20 |
| Safety score | 57 | 45 |
| Climate score | 72 | 72 |
| Amenities score | 79 | 66 |
| Population | 250.2K | 186.4K |
| Summer high / winter low | 106° / 46° | 106° / 46° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Glendale, AZ
Tempe, AZ