Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $72,689 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.1 pts lower (2.8%)
55% less violent crime than Pasadena
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Pasadena
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $662k less ($171,600 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $1068/mo less ($1,159 vs $2,227)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 45°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $72,689/yr
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$72,689
$137,387 vs $64,698/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
55% lower
254.4 vs 566.1 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
6.1 pp lower
2.8% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$662k less
$171,600 vs $833,300
Pasadena
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 14 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 Arlington to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $171,600 median home), income ($137,387 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Pasadena, TX are about 1,208 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.