City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Glendale, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Glendale - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

192,270
Residents
$84,262
Median income
$1,043,900
Median home
$2,601
Median rent (state)

Glendale - the verdict

Nationally, Glendale sits in the 66th percentile for household income and the 26th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

66th
percentile, household income
97th
percentile, home value
93rd
percentile, median rent
26th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Glendale, CA

California's Glendale is a mid-sized U.S. city, with 192,270 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Glendale households earn a median of $84,262 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.8%. Glendale's housing stock carries a median value of $1,043,900, and the median resident age is 41.4 years. Educational attainment runs 45.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 57.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 271 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Rapid Growth), up 36% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 2314.0 in FBI UCR data, near the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

California carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $2,601 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 100.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

192,270 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$84,262 /yr

Poverty 9.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Glendale compare to other US cities?

Glendale measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 66% higher than other cities
Home value 97% pricier than other cities
Median rent 93% pricier than other cities
Safety 26% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at California, Glendale ranks #287 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Glendale against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Glendale toward the top of California's cities

Among the 1,343 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Glendale ranks #216 - the 84th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Glendale only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#712 of 1,338
47th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#513 of 1,458
56th percentile in California
Median Home Value
#216 of 1,343
84th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#507 of 1,450
65th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#333 of 1,458
77th percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

66thIncome percentile
26thSafety percentile

66th percentile nationally for median household income · 26th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Glendale's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Glendale's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 32 Avg. percentile National median
Glendale's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Glendale's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$1,043,900 3rd percentile more affordable than 3% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. Glendale $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Glendale, CA Glendale, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Glendale, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Glendale, CA median $84,262/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Glendale, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Glendale, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 45.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
192,270
Median Income
$84,262
Median Home Value
$1,043,900
Median Age
41.4
Poverty Rate
9.8%
Labor force participation
57.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
45.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2314.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
287.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2026.8
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
22
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
185,000 residents190,000 residents195,000 residents200,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 195,933 residents 187,160 residents ▼ -4.5%
Glendale's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
271
housing units authorized
Single-Family
109
detached homes
Multifamily
162
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 200
2020 194
2021 167
2022 936
2023 247
2024 271

Permit volume increased 36% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
68.7%
Carpool
4.4%
Public Transit
2.1%
Walk
2.9%
Work from Home
18.7%
Other
3.2%

Based on 90,260 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Glendale sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,601/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
100.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Huntington Beach
196,010 people
Oxnard
201,014 people
Ontario
178,347 people
Elk Grove
177,221 people
Santa Rosa
177,216 people
Rancho Cucamonga
174,693 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Glendale's 192,270 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Vancouver, WA
192,696 people
Knoxville, TN
193,721 people
Providence, RI
190,214 people
Peoria, AZ
194,338 people
Akron, OH
189,526 people
Brownsville, TX
188,023 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Glendale's $84,262 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Walloon Lake, MI
$84,250 median income
Brooklyn Park, MD
$84,276 median income
Churchville, NY
$84,279 median income
Tome, NM
$84,243 median income
Bailey's Crossroads, VA
$84,241 median income
Grand Mound, IA
$84,286 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Glendale, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Glendale, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 67.4% 13.3% 9.1% 7.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 18.5% White 67.4% Black or African American 1.7% Asian 13.3% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 9.1% Two or more races 7.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Glendale compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Glendale (this city) 192,270 $84,262
Huntington Beach 196,010 $119,885
Oxnard 201,014 $93,372
Ontario 178,347 $82,806
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Glendale, CA?

What is the population of Glendale, CA? +

Glendale, CA has a population of 192,270 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Glendale, CA? +

Median annual household income in Glendale runs $84,262, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Glendale? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Glendale; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Glendale, CA safe? +

Glendale has a total crime rate of 2314.0 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Glendale, CA? +

The median home value in Glendale is $1,043,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.