Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Glendale lands on the scale
Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Glendale sits.
Pro sports in Glendale
The five major US leagues anchor a city’s sports identity — home stadiums, season-long event flow, drive-time fanbases. Glendale hosts 1 major-league team across 1 league.
- NFL Arizona Cardinals
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Glendale fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.
16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100
7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100
- Fun factors lift it
- –
- Drawbacks pull it down
- –
- Raw composite
- –
- Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
- –
Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).
The Fun breakdown
Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.
Glendale's strongest factors are Higher Education, Outdoors and Unique Hangouts. Its heaviest drawbacks are Air Quality, Weather Extremes and Disaster Risk.
On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.
What lifts the score
- Eats –
Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.
Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Drinks –
Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.
Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Coffee –
Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.
Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
-
Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
-
Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.
Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).
- Outdoors –
Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.
Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.
- Culture –
Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.
Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Events –
Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.
- Sports –
Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.
-
Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.
Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
-
How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.
Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).
- Climate –
How often the weather is good enough to get outside.
Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.
-
How well a person without a car can move around the city.
Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.
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Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.
Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).
-
Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.
Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.
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Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.
Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.
What weighs it down
- Crime –
Reported violent and property crime rates.
Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.
- Traffic –
Congestion and the time lost to commuting.
Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).
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Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
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Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
-
Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
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Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.
-
What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.
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Cities like Glendale
The Glendale read Free
A written read on Glendale, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Glendale scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.
Glendale, AZ: A Quiet City with Strong Higher Education Opportunities
Glendale, AZ earns a Fun Score of 10, placing it in the "Quiet" category, and stands out nationally for its robust higher education scene. In fact, it's tied for the 129th most fun city out of 134 cities nationwide.
Why it scores high
Glendale's strongest asset is its Higher Education opportunities, scoring 72 and ranking 38th nationally out of 134 cities. This indicates a significant presence of colleges and universities, suggesting a vibrant academic environment and potentially a younger demographic or a focus on learning and development. For residents, this can mean access to diverse educational programs, cultural events, and intellectual stimulation.
The city also offers good options for enjoying the Outdoors, with a score of 59 and tying for 55th nationally. This suggests a decent number of parks, nature reserves, or recreational facilities available for residents to explore and enjoy. Whether it's for a leisurely stroll, a family picnic, or more active pursuits, Glendale provides avenues for connecting with nature.
Furthermore, Glendale shows a notable presence of Unique Hangouts, scoring 52 and ranking 65th nationally. This indicates a variety of interesting and non-traditional entertainment options like escape rooms, arcades, or karaoke venues. For those looking for something beyond the usual, Glendale offers distinct choices for leisure and social activities.
Where it falls short
On the other hand, Glendale faces challenges in several areas. Its Air Quality scores a low 9, tying for 127th nationally. This suggests that the air quality in Glendale is often poor, which can impact daily life and outdoor activities for residents. Similarly, Weather Extremes also score 9, tying for 128th nationally, indicating that the city experiences significant extreme weather events.
The city's vulnerability to potential hazards is also highlighted by its Disaster Risk score of 10, tying for 123rd nationally. This suggests a higher likelihood of natural disasters or other significant risks, which residents should be aware of. Additionally, the Traffic score is 16, tying for 113th nationally, implying that commuters in Glendale may experience longer travel times and congestion.
Who it's for
Glendale is best suited for individuals or families who prioritize access to higher education and enjoy outdoor activities and unique entertainment options, even if it means contending with less-than-ideal air quality and potential weather extremes. It's a city for those who appreciate a quieter pace of life but still value opportunities for learning and distinct leisure pursuits.
Cities like it
- North Las Vegas, NV: Similar in its quiet atmosphere and focus on local amenities.
- Bakersfield, CA: Shares a comparable profile in terms of lifestyle and available activities.
- Garland, TX: Offers a similar experience for those seeking a more subdued urban environment.
Sources
- OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues
- SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)
- OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities
- OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres
- OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)
- NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days
- GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
- EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)
- NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data
- OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals
- US Census commute-time data (ACS)
- EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)
- FEMA National Risk Index
- NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data
- Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate
- Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services
This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.
Go deeper
Use the data
Glendale’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.
Cite this page
Paste-ready credit line for journalists, researchers and bloggers. Carries the score, the algorithm version and the canonical URL so readers can verify it themselves.
CityFunIndex Fun Score for Glendale, AZ: 10/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/glendale-az
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.