City Profile

Glendale, Arizona

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Glendale, Arizona, situated in Maricopa County just northwest of Phoenix, has evolved from a historic agricultural community founded in the late 19th century into a bustling major suburb. Known widely for its vibrant sports and entertainment district, the city uniquely combines a charming historic downtown featuring antique shops with ultra-modern mega-developments. People are continually drawn to Glendale for its sunny climate, relatively affordable housing compared to coastal markets, and rich calendar of major national events.

About Arizona

Arizona offers a diverse landscape, from low-elevation deserts to mountainous regions, and is known for its abundant sunshine, averaging around 300 sunny days per year. The state's economy is moderately diverse, with major industries including manufacturing (especially aerospace, defense, transportation, and electronics), healthcare, real estate, tourism, technology, bioscience, agriculture (cotton, citrus), and mining (copper). While the cost of living in Arizona is generally higher than the national average, particularly for housing, the state's mild winters and opportunities for outdoor activities contribute to an appealing lifestyle for many.

258,121

Population

$62K

Avg Salary

Cost Index

60.4

Quality Score

How this 60/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 68 / 100	68.0	30%	20.4
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 98.0	46.3	25%	11.6
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $73,530 Income needed to live here: $55,000 Unemployment rate: 4.9%	65.4	20%	13.1
Growth	Population growth rate: 1.2% Job growth rate: 1.8%	55.5	15%	8.3
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 70 / 100	70.0	10%	7.0
Overall score				60.4

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Gemini (Tier 1 (fast), q=73), last refreshed 11 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Glendale hovers near the national average, making it an attractive option for families and young professionals seeking value in the Phoenix metropolitan area. While housing costs have risen notably over recent years due to regional demand, everyday expenses such as groceries and transportation remain manageable. Utility costs can spike significantly during the intense summer months due to heavy air conditioning usage, which is an important factor for household budgeting.

Average Rent

$1,950/mo

Groceries

$400/mo

Transport

$120/mo

Utilities

$180/mo

Healthcare

$230/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$45.00

Cinema ticket

$14.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$22.00

Monthly groceries

$400.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$145.00

Income

Salary Insights

Glendale features a diversified economy anchored by healthcare, education, retail trade, and the burgeoning sports and tourism sectors. Major employment hubs include the Westgate Entertainment District, Midwestern University, and the sprawling Luke Air Force Base located nearby. The local job market benefits from steady employment growth across the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metropolitan area, alongside a supportive environment for remote workers and small business startups.

The average salary in Glendale is $62,000 per year. You would need approximately $55,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Retail Trade +1.20% Accommodation and Food Services +2.80% Educational Services +1.50% Healthcare and Social Assistance +2.40% Professional and Technical Services +2.20%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

76°F

Avg Temp

☀️

105°F

Summer High

❄️

49°F

Winter Low

🌧️

14.20"

Annual Rain

💧

35.00%

Humidity

🌤️

322

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Glendale is a predominantly car-dependent city, where most residents commute via personal vehicles along major arterial grids and freeways like the Loop 101. Public transit options include regional bus services provided by Valley Metro, though coverage is optimized primarily for major corridors rather than door-to-door convenience. Average commute times align closely with regional benchmarks at roughly 27 to 28 minutes.

28 min

Avg Commute

42.00/10

Transit Score

40.00/10

Walkability

High

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Median household income stands at a healthy $73,530 per recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

World-class entertainment and sports venues like State Farm Stadium anchor a thriving local tourism economy.

Abundant sunshine averaging 322 sunny days per year supports an active outdoor lifestyle.

Proximity to major higher education institutions like Midwestern University and Glendale Community College.

Active municipal investments in the Westgate Entertainment District drive ongoing commercial growth.

Drawbacks

Extreme summer heat with high temperatures regularly exceeding 105°F requires high seasonal energy expenditures.

High car dependency limits walkability and places heavy reliance on regional freeway networks.

Poverty rate of roughly 15.1% highlights economic disparities across certain neighborhoods.

Rising rental and housing costs have pressured affordability for lower-income households.

Ozone and particulate air quality can occasionally decline during peak summer stagnation periods.

Head to Head

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Questions about Glendale

What people ask about living in and moving to Glendale, Arizona.

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Gathering the most common questions about Glendale…

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

Glendale, AZ

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Westgate Village

Glendale, AZ

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Glendale, Arizona

Happening in Glendale

Businesses in Glendale

Quality Scores

Cost of Living

Salary Insights

Top Industries

Climate

Transport

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Drawbacks

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Questions about Glendale

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Urblytica's Cost of Living Index calculated relative to the national baseline?

Where does Urblytica source its real estate and housing market data?

What criteria determine whether a city is eligible for a full Urblytica economic and lifestyle profile?

How are historical data revisions handled when federal or municipal agencies update past statistics?

How are U.S. federal income tax brackets and state income taxes integrated into Urblytica's U.S. affordability model?

What role do local property tax millage rates play in calculating U.S. cost-of-living scores?

How does Urblytica account for state-level sales tax and local excise tax variations across U.S. cities?

How are U.S. regional utility costs—such as electricity and natural gas—benchmarked across different climate zones?

Does Urblytica's U.S. cost-of-living index factor in employer-sponsored healthcare or out-of-pocket medical costs?

How does Urblytica measure U.S. school district performance and educational access?

Senior Care in Glendale

LifeStream Complete Senior Living at Thunderbird

VEMA Corporation

Age Care Limited, LLC

Thunderbird Home - Hospice of the Valley

Inspira at Arrowhead

Orchard Pointe at Arrowhead

Advanced Health Care Of Glendale

Thunderbird Senior Living Community

LifeStream at Glendale

Providence Place At Glencroft

Glencroft Senior Living

Westgate Village

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