Glendale is a perfect city in many ways. But if you’re planning to move there, you need to know more than how great it is. So, what’re the pros and cons of living in Glendale?
Living in Glendale is fun. The city has features that make it livable such as its proximity to LA, safety, strong economy, outdoorsy weather, and several activities. But it isn’t exactly perfect. There are disadvantages which include tax burden, expensive to live in, traffic and car dependency.
Despite the drawbacks of living in Glendale, the city is highly rated when considering all the factors that make a place livable. But let’s not decide for you; read on to learn the pros and cons of living in Glendale.
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Pros of Living in Glendale
Here are the benefits of living in Glendale
1. Proximity to Los Angeles
One of the most significant advantages of living in this city is the closeness to Los Angeles. The city is only 8 miles from LA which means you only need a few minutes by car to get inside LA. In addition, Hollywood, Dodger Stadium, Downtown LA, the Rose Bowl, and other LA neighborhoods are easily accessible from Glendale within a few minutes.
While it’s close to LA, Glendale isn’t in its shadows. The city has its character, and with a population of over 200,000, it’s pretty expansive. In addition, since Glendale is part of the greater LA metropolitan area, residents get to enjoy all the benefits of Los Angeles and the suburban vibe of Glendale.
2. Safety
When picking a place to live, safety is usually a critical criterion. Fortunately, Glendale is one of the safest cities in America. The total crime rate is 30% below the national average, and property crime is 23% lower. In addition, violent crimes are rare here, with the rate at 70% below the national average.
As a resident here, the probability of being a victim is very low. There is a 1 in 58 chance of becoming a crime victim. Glendale is safer than 59% of US cities, and its crime rate is also 37% below that of California. The town is primarily residential. So, if you’re looking for a safe residential community to raise a family or live alone, Glendale could be right for you.
3. Strong Economy
Despite being a residential city, this city has a robust economy. The job outlook is good, and there are several job opportunities for residents. Although the unemployment level is slightly above the national average, the income per capita is higher, and the poverty rate is lower.
Industries that are prominent here include entertainment, healthcare, education, and civil service. The major employers in the city include Dreamworks Animation, Glendale Unified School District, Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale Community College, Glendair Inc, Glendale Memorial Center, Nestle Company, Public Storage, and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital. There are also some resources centers for getting a job in the city. They include Verdugo Job Center, 211 Los Angeles County Referral Service, WorkSource Center, etc.
4. Nice Weather Conditions
A big plus for this city is its pleasant weather. This isn’t surprising given that most of California have excellent weather conditions. Glendale has a temperate climate, which means the temperature is mild throughout the year. December and January are the coolest months of the year here, and even then, it doesn’t snow in Glendale.
All you get to see is rainfall which is heaviest in January and February. With this kind of weather, it’s an amazing place to spend your days outdoors. With a score of 9.2/10 on the BestPlaces weather comfort rating, Glendale has one of the most comfortable weather conditions in California.
5. Several Activities for its Diverse Residents
There’s no boring time when you live in Glendale. This city has a diverse population with a large percentage of Armenians. You can see this in the food and cultural activities in the city. There are several outdoor activities to do here too. From the mountains to parks to galleries, there are several attractions in the city.
Cons of Living in Glendale
There are disadvantages to living in Glendale, and they include
1. High Living Cost
Living in Glendale means you have to spend significantly higher on housing and basic expenses. So, while the city is fantastic in many ways, it’s also expensive. This isn’t surprising, considering it’s close to Los Angeles. The cost of living here is 93.6% above the national average, also higher than the California average. So, you need to be earning well to live a quality life here.
Homes in Glendale are expensive. While the average cost of a home in California is around $700,000, homes in Glendale cost about $1 million on average. So even if you choose to rent, getting an apartment will still cost you a princely sum.
2. High Tax Burden
It seems every challenge that residents will have in Glendale is financial. However, another problem here is the high tax rates. Even though California already has one of the highest income tax rates in the country, the local authorities in Glendale still charge other taxes at a very high rate.
For example, the city has one of the highest sales tax rates in the state at 10.25%. This is higher than the sales taxes in 99% of localities in California. The property tax for Los Angeles County is also on the high side at 1.175%. Since Glendale is part of LA county, you’ll also have to pay this tax. So, you should be prepared to bear the heavy tax burden that comes with living in one of the safest cities in California.
3. Traffic and Car Dependency
Glendale is car-oriented, and you’ll need a car when living here. While the average one-way commute time here is manageable at 27.9 minutes, there can be traffic. This is most common during rush hours. The main arteries serving Glendale, such as Central Ave, Pacific Ave, Glendale Blvd, and Brand Blvd, can be blocked during rush hours.
However, the major traffic occurs on the freeway where Highway-134 can be gridlocked for hours. Fortunately, Glendale itself is walkable to a large extent. WalkScore gives it a walkability score of 71/100. The transit score is 45/100, and the Bike Score is 52/100. The transit score suggests that there are some public transport options in the city. This generally includes Metro buses, Metrolink, Greyhound, Amtrak, and the Glendale Beeline.
In Conclusion
Living in Glendale can be a great experience for you. The city is impressive in many respects. It even has an excellent livability score of 70. But it has few issues too, mostly around how expensive it is to live there. Despite these issues, you’ll find Glendale to be a great place.
