Median Income
$123,869
household / year
Median Home Value
$991,200
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$2,127
gross / month
Cost of Living
116
national avg = 100

Is Altadena, CA a Good Place to Live?

Altadena is a small city of 42,719 in California, with a median household income of $123,869 and a 6.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 116 (US average = 100), which is 16% above the national average.

Strengths: Altadena stands out for solid school ratings (B), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Altadena is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Altadena city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 115.5

Altadena's overall cost of living index is 115.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Altadena costs roughly 16% more than the average American city.

Metric Altadena, CA National Avg
Median Home Value $991,200 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $2,127 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 75.7% 65.9%
Median Household Income $123,869 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Altadena's violent crime rate is 558.4 per 100,000 residents — 47% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
558.4 /100k
Property Crime
1902.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Altadena is served primarily by Odyssey Charter District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 25.7:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Altadena, CA National Avg
School District Odyssey Charter District —
Elementary Schools 1 —
Middle Schools N/A —
High Schools N/A —
Student/Teacher Ratio 25.7:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 52.5% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 92.3% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Altadena sees average highs of 68.1°F in January and 89.1°F in July, with 21.4 inches of annual precipitation .

MetricAltadena, CA
Average High — January68.1°F
Average High — July89.1°F
Annual Precipitation21.4"
Annual SnowfallTrace / None

Demographics

MetricAltadena, CANational Avg
Population42,719—
Median Age43.838.9
Unemployment Rate6.7%3.7%
Avg Commute Time27.8 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)48.7%59.3%
Black or African American18.2%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino20.2%18.9%
Asian5.6%6.3%
Under 1820.4%22.2%
65 and over20.0%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Pasadena, CA 2 mi La Cañada Flintridge, CA 4 mi San Pasqual, CA 4 mi San Marino, CA 5 mi East Pasadena, CA 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Altadena

Altadena, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

91001

Altadena vs Other Cities

Altadena, CA vs Pasadena, CA Altadena, CA vs La Cañada Flintridge, CA Altadena, CA vs San Pasqual, CA Altadena, CA vs San Marino, CA Altadena, CA vs East Pasadena, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Altadena's cost of living index is 116, where 100 is the national average. That puts Altadena roughly 16% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $991,200 and median rent is $2,127/month.
Altadena's violent crime rate is 558.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1902.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Altadena are operated by Odyssey Charter District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 25.7:1. 52.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Altadena, CA has a population of 42,719, a median household income of $123,869, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Altadena averages 68.1°F in January and 89.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 21.4 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Altadena, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 91001.
The population of Altadena, California is 42,719 with a median age of 43.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Altadena: cost of living index 116 (100 = US average), median home $991,200, median household income $123,869, crime index 124 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Altadena side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.