Chula Vista CA vs Glendale CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Chula Vista, CA

California · Population: 8,933

  • Median HH Income$104,238
  • Median Home Price$849,245
  • Unemployment2.2%
  • Bachelor's+26.9%

Glendale, CA

California · Population: 192,270

  • Median HH Income$84,262
  • Median Home Price$1,205,826
  • Unemployment8.2%
  • Bachelor's+45.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Chula Vista
8,933
Glendale
192,270
Glendale +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Chula Vista
N/A
Glendale
N/A
Median Age
Chula Vista
42.9
Glendale
41.4
Glendale +
Foreign Born
Chula Vista
20.0%
Glendale
51.0%
Glendale +
White
Chula Vista
65.7%
Glendale
67.4%
Glendale +
Black
Chula Vista
0.7%
Glendale
1.7%
Glendale +
Asian
Chula Vista
0.7%
Glendale
13.3%
Glendale +
Hispanic
Chula Vista
36.5%
Chula Vista +
Glendale
18.5%
Spanish at Home
Chula Vista
N/A
Glendale
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Chula Vista
$104,238
Chula Vista +
Glendale
$84,262
Per Capita Income
Chula Vista
$49,562
Chula Vista +
Glendale
$46,597
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Chula Vista
$77,230
Glendale
$77,230
Tie
Unemployment Rate
Chula Vista
2.2%
Chula Vista +
Glendale
8.2%
Poverty Rate
Chula Vista
4.5%
Chula Vista +
Glendale
13.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
Chula Vista
26.9%
Glendale
45.5%
Glendale +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Chula Vista
$849,245
Chula Vista +
Glendale
$1,205,826
Homeownership Rate
Chula Vista
71.4%
Chula Vista +
Glendale
35.3%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Chula Vista
503
Glendale
503
Tie
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Chula Vista
2388
Glendale
2388
Tie

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
26.6%
Glendale
24.5%
Glendale +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
11.4%
Glendale
10.9%
Glendale +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Chula Vista
16.0%
Chula Vista +
Glendale
16.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
12.4%
Glendale
6.8%
Glendale +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
15.7%
Glendale
15.6%
Glendale +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
9.6%
Chula Vista +
Glendale
11.5%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Chula Vista
63.5°F
Chula Vista +
Glendale
64.1°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Chula Vista
9.8 in
Chula Vista +
Glendale
17.3 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Chula Vista
7.9 µg/m³
Glendale
7.9 µg/m³
Tie
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Chula Vista
75.0%
Glendale
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Chula Vista
26.9 min
Chula Vista +
Glendale
30.2 min

Which City is Right for You?

Chula Vista leads in median household income at $104,238, while chula Vista offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $849,245. On public safety, Glendale is safer with a violent crime rate of 503 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Chula Vista. Chula Vista has a lower unemployment rate at 2.2%, and Glendale has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Glendale scores better with a lower obesity rate of 24.5%.

Compare More Cities

About Chula Vista & Glendale