Glendale vs Scottsdale: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Glendale, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricGlendale, AZScottsdale, AZ
Population248,083240,537
Median household income$66,375$104,197
Median home value$310,000$651,800
Median rent (/mo)$1,268$1,768

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Glendale, AZ and Scottsdale, AZ comes down to what you value most. Glendale has the lower median home value, and Glendale has the lower median rent.

Scottsdale has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Glendale or Scottsdale?
By median home value, Glendale is the cheaper of the two ($310,000 vs $651,800). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Glendale or Scottsdale?
Median household income is $66,375 in Glendale versus $104,197 in Scottsdale, per the US Census Bureau.

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