Prior to the late 1800s, Glendale was completely desert land. City-founder, William John Murphy, built the 40-mile-long Arizona Canal between Granite Reef and New River for the Arizona Canal Company, which brought water to the desert land. He named the city Glendale in 1887, which means valley of fertile, low-lying arable land, to increase the number of people moving to Glendale.
Glendale is known for being Arizona’s antique capital, with Old Towne Glendale featuring antique shops in turn-of-the-century brick storefronts and Catlin Court’s Craftsman bungalows. There are about 70 antique shops within 10 blocks in the charming walkable district.
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Where is Glendale Arizona?
Glendale, Arizona is in the “West Valley” region of the Phoenix area, and a city located in Maricopa County, about 9 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix. It’s about 10 miles from Glendale to Phoenix, taking about 22 minutes to drive. Phoenix borders Glendale to the south and east, Peoria, El Mirage, and Surprise form the northwestern borders, and Goodyear and Litchfield Park border Glendale to the southwest.
Some of the largest areas of Glendale are Westgate and the University of Phoenix Stadium, areas that always seem to be alive with festivals, sporting events, or concerts.
Glendale is part of the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler Metro area, although prior to 2015 it used to be known as Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale.
Glendale Information
- County: Maricopa County
- Area: (square miles): 65.09
- Zip code: 85301-85318
- Area code: 623 and 602
- Elevation: 1,152 feet
- Time zone: UTC-7 (MST – no DST)
- Closest airport: Phoenix (PHX) Airport, 13.1 miles from Glendale
Glendale Population & Demographics
The population of Glendale is 249,630, making it one of the seven largest cities in Arizona and the fifth largest city in Maricopa County. Glendale experienced a population increase of 8.69% increase since 2010. There are 3,929.5 people living per square mile in Glendale. Among the residents are martial artists fighter, Sean O’Malley, and Michael McDowell, NASCAR driver.
- 51% female
- Median age: 33.8
- Racial and ethnic composition:
- 45% White
- 39% Hispanic
- 7% Black
- 4% Asian
- 3% Two or more
- 1% Native
- Median household income: $56,991 – compared to Arizona’s $61,529 median household income
- Educational attainment:
- 83.8% high school graduates or higher
- 21.9% bachelor’s degree or higher
- 8% post-graduate degree
- Foreign-born population: 16.9%
Transportation
About 9% of Glendale households do not have a car, compared to the national average of 8.7%. Glendale households average 1.72 cars per household, which is right about the average across the country as well. Interstate 101 runs right through the Glendale area, which makes it easy to get in and out of the city.
The major highways in Glendale include:
- Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway)
- Loop 303 (Estrella Freeway)
- Northern Parkway (Northern Freeway)
- US-60 (Grand Avenue)
Public transportation in Glendale includes low-cost alternatives like a fixed-route bus service (Valley Metro), GUS bus service, Glendale Dial-A-Ride, and a Taxi Voucher Program.
Glendale Cost of Living
When you’re thinking about moving to Glendale one of the first considerations is how much it costs to live in the city. You don’t want to move to an area you can’t afford! Understanding what it costs to live in Glendale is possible by reviewing the cost of living index – a theoretical price index that helps you compare one city to another, measuring the differences in the price of goods and services. A cost of living index isn’t an exact measurement but it at least gives you an idea of what to expect for common expenses.
The cost of living index in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metro where Glendale is located is 95.3. Because the index is under 100, it means Glendale is more affordable than the average cost of living for cities in the United States.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four living in Maricopa County would need to earn $89,542 per year to afford to live in the county. The MIT living wage calculator shows the hourly rate an individual must earn to support his or herself and their family, assuming the sole provider works full-time. The living wage for one adult and no children in Maricopa County is $18.08 per hour. If you have two children, you’ll want to earn $39.43. Check out the living wage calculator to see the hourly wage needed in relation to your family size.
Typical Glendale Living Expenses
According to Numbeo:
- Meal for 2, midrange restaurant – $30
- 12 ounce Coke/Pepsi – $1.50
- 1 Gallon of Milk – $3.05
- Loaf of bread – $2.20
- Dozen eggs – $3.00
- 1 lb Chicken Fillets – $5
- Average Glendale utilities per month: $347
Glendale Taxes
The sales tax rate in Glendale, Arizona for 2022 is 10.25%, including state, county, and city sales tax rates.
Glendale property taxes are determined by local governments wherever the home is located and are adjusted based on the value of the property. You can determine your Maricopa County taxes by taking the assessed value of your property, dividing it by 100, and then multiplying it by the current tax rate. Glendale home prices are up 23.3% compared to last year, with homes selling for a median price of $450,000. Average monthly apartment rent in Glendale is $1,504.
The current property tax rate in Maricopa County is 0.610% of your assessed home value.
Arizona state income tax rates are 2.59%, 3.34%, 4.17% and 4.5% depending on your tax bracket, taxable income, tax-filing status, and your residency status.
Glendale Real Estate | Average Rent & Home Prices
If you’re moving to Glendale and want to buy a house, you should know the market is competitive. The Glendale median home price is $450,000, and most homes get multiple offers. The average sale price per square foot is up over 23.7% from last year, selling for about $266 per square foot.
Average homes sell for 1% above list price within about 24 days, while hot home sell for about 5% above list price within 7 days.
Here’s a list of Glendale, AZ homes for sale to get started with your search.
If you plan to rent an apartment instead of buy a home while living in Glendale, AZ, the average Glendale rent prices are $1,504 per month and price ranges for various apartment sizes according to RentCafe are:
- Studio apartment – $950 to $2,045
- 1 Bedroom – $940 to $4,188
- 2 Bedrooms – $940 to $5,203
- 3 Bedrooms – $1,251 to $6,306
Glendale Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Glendale
Deciding where to live in Glendale come down to how much you want to spend on housing or rent, whether you are looking for family amenities or an active nightlife, or how long you’re willing to travel to and from work. There are many options for neighborhoods that support a variety of lifestyles. Some of the best neighborhoods in Glendale are:
Downtown Glendale -Fine Dining Opportunities and Nightlife
If you’re someone who loves the hustle and bustle of a city with endless opportunities for nightlife and fine-dining, the downtown Glendale area is the best neighborhood for you. There is plenty to explore, shopping venues, and a Broadway theater, botanical garden, and space center all within the neighborhood boundaries.
Litchfield Park – Safe, Suburban Community
Located 16 miles west of central Phoenix, Litchfield Park is a suburban community with a casual lifestyle. If you’re looking for a safe community to raise your family, and a small town atmosphere – Litchfield Park is one of the best places to live in Glendale. Interstate 10 gives you easy access to the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Arrowhead Ranch – Quiet Neighborhood with Good Schools
A populated place within Glendale, the Arrowhead Ranch neighborhood was once a citrus farm. The area was purchased for development in 1978 and annexed by Glendale in 1979. The Arrowhead Ranch neighborhood is located between 75th Avenue and the Loop 101 freeway in the 85308 zip code of Glendale. There are over 1,200 houses in the community, along with the Arrowhead Country Club and Oasis Park, an aquatics center, and outdoor spaces.
Glendale Weather & Climate
Glendale, AZ has a Köppen classification of a mid-latitude steppe and desert climate. There is very little precipitation, only about 9 inches of rain per year, and the area is characterized by extremely variable temperatures. The warmest month of the year is July, with an average temperature of 90.0°F and the coolest month is January, when the average temperature drops to 51.0°F.
Due to the lack of precipitation and temperatures that rarely get colder than 36°F you probably won’t love living in Glendale if you’re someone who loves spending time in the snow. Glendale doesn’t get snow!
Glendale Restaurants
Restaurants in Glendale offer a wide range of worldly flavors, from traditional Polish or German meals to contemporary Chinese or Japanese, to home-style Mexican feasts. Many of the favorite places to eat are the restaurants near Arrowhead Mall (in the Arrowhead Towne Center).
- Black Angus Steakhouse – Arrowhead. Flame-grilled, perfectly seasoned steaks, burgers, seafood, and desserts for the entire family. Black Angus Steakhouse, 7606 W. Bell Road, Glendale, AZ, 85308. (623) 878-6200.
- The Lola. Cocktail lab and eatery with brunch, lunch, dinner, and desserts. The Lola, 6770 N Sunrise Blvd, Glendale, AZ, 85305. (623) 877-5225.
- Macayo’s Mexican Food – Bell Road. Authentic Mexican food with favorites like enchiladas, tacos, tostados, and salads. Dine in or take out available. Macayo’s Mexican Food, 6012 W. Bell Road, Glendale, AZ 85308, (602)298-8080.
Things to Do in Glendale, AZ
There is no shortage of fun things to do in Glendale, whether it’s taking the kids to a water park or zoo, enjoying a night out with friends at the local casino, or visiting one of the numerous parks for free things to entertain the family.
Top Glendale Attractions
- Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park. Enjoy a wide variety of land and water animals and amusement park rides. You can feed the giraffes! Kids and adults of all ages enjoy walking through this attraction.
- Desert Diamond Casino – West Valley. Try your luck gambling with over 1,400 slot machines, live table games, and electronic games. When you get hungry, visit one of the three on-site restaurants including two bars offering cocktails and craft beers.
- Fear Farm Haunted House. Fairgrounds with multiple activities and exhibits, and corn maze. Visit the home of Halloween right in Glendale! (Activities may be too intense for children under age 12).
- Hurricane Harbor Six Flags. Perfect family-friendly activity with water park, lazy river, slides, and play areas. More than 30 aquatic attractions to help you cool off and visit the dry rides of Six Flags while you’re there.
- Jumpstreet. Amusement center for all ages featuring a variety of bounce houses, slides, and games.
- Foothills Recreation and Aquatic Center. Some areas of the aquatic center and some of the programming is free to everyone while recreation memberships are needed for other areas. Foothills Rec and Aquatic Center offers education, recreational, fitness, and social activities for all ages.
- Topgolf. Climate-controlled hitting bays with HDTVs in each bay, in the restaurant, and the sports bar. Bring your own golf clubs or use ours complimentary, the high-tech game scores itself as you take aim at giant outfield targets.
Glendale Entertainment & Arts
- Arizona Broadway Theater. Broadway-style musicals, dinner, and bar service make the Broadway Theater a must-experience venue in Glendale!
- Spotlight Youth Theater. Great performing-arts center for aspiring actors, Spotlight Youth Theater focuses on theater and workshops for Glendale’s youth.
- Westgate Entertainment District. From specialty shops to eateries to entertainment, the Westgate Entertainment District has it all. Don’t miss the sport-sinfused fun for Coyotes and Cardinals fans!
- West Wind Glendale 9 Drive-in. During the day, the Drive-In field is a market with produce and clothes. At night, enjoy a traditional drive-in movie experience under the stars.
- Stir Crazy Comedy Club. Casual comedy club with rotating talent to get you laughing, pub grun, cocktails, and beer.
Glendale Museums
- Martin Auto Museum. More than 160 vehicles to check out for the $10 entry fee. There are three event rooms in the museum for hosting parties and events.
- Deer Valley Petroglyph Reserve at Arizona State University. Take yourself on a self-guide quarter-mile trail with a free audio tour. You’ll see petroglyphs, native desert plants, and animals in their natural habitat.
- Glendale Arizona Historical Society. Dedicated to the historic preservation of Glendale, the society has a collection of preserved artifacts, photographs, written materials, and oral histories that it shares with the community.
- Manistee Ranch. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the ranch and its four buildings can be visited by anyone looking to experience the history of Glendale.
Glendale Parks & Outdoors
- Glendale Heroes Regional Park. A city-maintained park featuring water play areas, Skate and BMX facility, playgrounds, picnic areas, and a basketball court.
- Thunderbird Paseo Park. Park with trails, sporting facilities, Desert Interpretive Garden, and disc golf.
- Grand Canal Linear Park. A large green space park with playground, canalside trail, disc-golf course, and picnic areas.
- Thunderbird Conservation Park. Nearly four miels of trails in this park are ideal for walking, biking, and horseback riding. The trails also connect to Skunk Creek Linear Park’s trails.
Shopping in Glendale
- Arrowhead Towne Center. Shopping mall and eateries, movie theater, and free wifi.
- Tander Outlets.Brand name and designer outlet stores.
- Northern Crossing. Shopping mall with department stores and a variety of restaurants.
Map of Things to Do in Glendale, AZ
Sports
If you’ve been wondering where the next super bowl will be, you’re in luck because Super Bowl LVII on February 12, 2023, will be held at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The State Farm Stadium is home to the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League and the annual Fiesta Bowl.
Glendale is also home to Gila River Arena – both are popular venues for sporting events.
Glendale Crime Rate
When you’re considering living in Glendale, one of the first things you want to know is how safe it is! The total crime rate per 100,000 people is 3,523, which is 21.7% higher than the rest of Arizona and 42.2% higher than the United States average. However, it’s important to note that Glendale has a lower violent crime rate than Arizona and the national average, at 340 violent crimes per 100,000 compared to 455 in Arizona and 367 nationwide. Of the 340 violent crimes, only 7 are murders in Glendale. There are many safe places in Glendale to live.
Crime Rate Comparison
Here’s how the Glendale crime rate compares to cities of a similar population size:
- Scottsdale, Arizona – 2,117 total crimes per 100,000 (49.8% lower than Glendale) with 159 violent crimes
- Chesapeake, Virginia – 6,653 total crimes per 100,000 (61.5% higher than Glendale) with 456 violent crimes
- Garland, Texas – 7,049 total crimes per 100,000 (66.7% higher than Glendale) with 302 violent crimes
- Irving, Texas – 6,599 total crimes per 100,000 (60.8% higher than Glendale)with 251 violent crimes
The Glendale Police Department has 410 officers on the force, dedicated to keeping the city as safe as possible.
Economy & Jobs in Glendale
Glendale is the growth leader in Arizona, with unprecedented job creation and commercial development growth. Over 21,000 new residents moved to Glendale since 2010, with 64% of the growth occurring since 2015. The population has a higher than average percentage of working-aged individuals between the ages of 18 and 24. There are approximately .40 jobs per resident, making Glendale the leader of all West Valley cities and fifth in the county with more jobs per citizen than Gilbert and Mesa, Arizona.
The largest employers in Glendale include:
- Luke Air Force Base – 5,100 employees
- Banner Health – 3,000 employees
- Arrowhead Towne Center – 2,650 employees
- Walmart – 2,175 employees
Want to work in the same city you live in? Try finding city of Glendale jobs. The median hourly wage for people working in any industry in the Glendale area is $21.91 while the average weekly wage for people living in Maricopa County is $1,344.
Healthcare
You have many options when it comes to healthcare in Glendale. From urgent care centers to primary care physicians, and several hospitals – you are never far away from caring medical professionals. The top hospitals in Glendale:
Banner Thunderbird Medical Center – 5555 W. Thunderbird RdBanner Thunderbird is a general medical and surgical facility that’s highly rated in performing cancer treatments, cardiology surgeries, gastroenterology and GI surgeries, and geriatric care.
Abrazo Arrowhead Hospital – 18701 N. 67th Avenue
Abrazo Arrowhead Hospital is a general medical and surgical facility that’s highly rated in the following treatments and procedures:
- Cancer
- Cardiology and heart surgery
- Gastroenterology and GI surgery
- Neurology and neurosurgery
- Orthopedics
- Pulmonary and lung surgery
- Urology
Glendale Schools
For the youngest learners in Glendale, Tots Unlimited offers two locations of preschool and childcare. Many of the elementary schools offer free all-day kindergarten, too.
For older children, the Glendale area is served by the following school districts:
Glendale Elementary School District #40
- 18 schools
- total enrollment over 13,000 students
Pendergast Elementary School District #92
- 12 schools
- preschool through grade 8
- about 10,000 students
Peoria Unified School District
- 34 elementary schools
- 7 high schools
- 1 non-traditional high school
Peoria prides itself on its award-winning teachers, career and tech education programs, high test scores, excellent athletics, and free, all-day kindergarten. Peoria was the first school district in Arizona to receive the AdvancED Accreditation.
Glendale Union High School District #205
- 9 high schools
- 15,000 students
Glendale is an “A” rated district with 8 of the 9 schools ranked among hte best high schools in the country by US News & World Report. All Glendale Union High Schools are part of the College Board’s 2013 National Advanced Placement District of the Year.
Student Choice High School
- student/teacher ratio – 15:1
- designed to help students having difficulty finding success in a traditional school setting
Legacy Traditional School
- “A” Rated school, voted #1 charter school in Arizona
- Several locations over the valley
- Charter school
Private Schools
Should you prefer private schools, there are 21 independent schools serving over 2,605 students in the Glendale area. About 29% of the private schools are religiously affiliated, most commonly Baptist and Catholic. The private schools of the city have an 89% acceptance rate. The top private schools in Glendale include:
College
Students who want to continue their education beyond high school can attend Glendale Community College. Part of Maricopa County Community College District (the largest community college district in the United States), Glendale Community College offers associate degrees, certificate programs, industry-specific training, and university transfer.
Library
Everyone in the community benefits from the programming and resources available at the Glendale Public Library. Visit the library to find out how to become a volunteer at the next Super Bowl!
Glendale Utilities & DMV Change of Address
One of the first things you’ll need to do after moving to Glendale is set up the utilities in your new home and change your address on your driver’s license.
Utilities
Gas Utility:
5702 West Glendale Avenue, Glendale, AZ
(602) 861-1999
Visit this link to start or transfer your gas service.
Electric:
(602) 371-7171 (metro Phoenix)
(800) 253-9405 (other areas)
(602) 236-8888
Water:
City of Glendale Arizona Water Services
7070 West Northern Avenue
Glendale, AZ 85303
(623) 930-4100
Changing Your Address to Glendale at the AZ Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Devision
If you already have an Arizona driver’s license and just need to change your address, Arizona law requires that you report the address change to MVD within 10 days of moving. You can change your address online at AZMVDNow.gov or contact us.
You will need your name, date of birth, driver license or ID card number. It is free to change your address but if you request a replacement driver’s license or ID card with the new address it will cost $12.
If you’re moving to Arizona from another state, you’ll need to visit one of the 40 ADOT offices to obtain your initial driver’s license and register your vehicles if you have any. You may be required to pass a vision test.
If you have a valid driver’s license from another state, you may not be required to take the written and road tests to get an Arizona license. If this is your first license, or you want to prepare, click here for Tests and Manuals.
You’ll need proof of identification and age. Bring your social security card, driver’s license or identification card, or a commercial driver’s license.
When you’re ready to move to Glendale, Arizona, we invite you to give our experienced Glendale movers team a call at Mentors Moving: 480-376-1009. We look forward to helping you with your journey and know you will enjoy living in the beautiful city of Glendale!
