Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Arden-Arcade leads 13 of 22 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,076
Pasadena
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
8% less violent crime than Pasadena
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (8.1%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Pasadena
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $295k less ($171,600 vs $466,300)
Rent averages $226/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,385)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 57°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 8.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Violent Crime
8% lower
518.1 vs 566.1 per 100k
Arden-Arcade
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
8.1% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$295k less
$171,600 vs $466,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $64,698 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 92.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 150,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arden-Arcade leads 13 of 22 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 13 and Pasadena wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arden-Arcade to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $171,600 median home), income ($64,479 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Pasadena, TX are about 1,616 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.