What are the schools like in Sierra Madre, CA?

Sierra Madre is served primarily by Pasadena Unified. The district operates 14 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 21.1:1.

What is the median household income in Sierra Madre?

The median household income in Sierra Madre, CA is $128,056 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.2%.

What is the weather like in Sierra Madre, CA?

Sierra Madre has an average high temperature of 56.2°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 19.4 inches.

Sierra Madre, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Sierra Madre, CA affordable or expensive?

Sierra Madre's cost of living index is 116, where 100 represents the national average. This means Sierra Madre is 16% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $1,141,200 and the median rent is $1,994 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Sierra Madre, CA?

Sierra Madre has a violent crime rate of 208.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 597.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Sierra Madre, CA a Good Place to Live?

Sierra Madre is a small city of 11,151 in California, with a median household income of $128,056 and a 3.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 116 (US average = 100), which is 16% above the national average.

Strengths: Sierra Madre stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population.

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

All Sierra Madre 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

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

Metric	Sierra Madre, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$1,141,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,994	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	56.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$128,056	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Sierra Madre's violent crime rate is 208.6 per 100,000 residents — 45% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

208.6 /100k

Property Crime

597.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Sierra Madre is served primarily by Pasadena Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Sierra Madre, CA	National Avg
School District	Pasadena Unified	—
Elementary Schools	14	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	21.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	64.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Sierra Madre sees average highs of 56.2°F in January and 84.5°F in July, with 19.4 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Sierra Madre, CA
Average High — January	56.2°F
Average High — July	84.5°F
Annual Precipitation	19.4"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Sierra Madre, CA	National Avg
Population	11,151	—
Median Age	46.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	28.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	67.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	5.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.2%	18.9%
Asian	18.4%	6.3%
Under 18	18.2%	22.2%
65 and over	20.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Arcadia, CA 3 mi East Pasadena, CA 3 mi San Pasqual, CA 4 mi Monrovia, CA 4 mi East San Gabriel, CA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Sierra Madre

Sierra Madre, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

91024

Sierra Madre vs Other Cities

Sierra Madre, CA vs Arcadia, CA Sierra Madre, CA vs East Pasadena, CA Sierra Madre, CA vs San Pasqual, CA Sierra Madre, CA vs Monrovia, CA Sierra Madre, CA vs East San Gabriel, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sierra Madre, CA affordable or expensive?

Sierra Madre's cost of living index is 116, where 100 is the national average. That puts Sierra Madre roughly 16% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $1,141,200 and median rent is $1,994/month.

What is the crime rate in Sierra Madre, CA?

Sierra Madre's violent crime rate is 208.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 597.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Sierra Madre?

Public schools in Sierra Madre are operated by Pasadena Unified. The district has 14 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.1:1. 64.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Sierra Madre, CA a good place to live?

Sierra Madre, CA has a population of 11,151, a median household income of $128,056, and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Sierra Madre?

Sierra Madre averages 56.2°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 19.4 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Sierra Madre?

Sierra Madre, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 91024.

What is the population of Sierra Madre?

The population of Sierra Madre, California is 11,151 with a median age of 46.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Sierra Madre?

Key numbers for living in Sierra Madre: cost of living index 116 (100 = US average), median home $1,141,200, median household income $128,056, crime index 44 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sierra Madre side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.