Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Bellevue leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellevue
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
150,606
Pasadena
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698
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.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
Households earn $84,853 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Pasadena
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (4.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,139,500
Higher rents — median is $2,422/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Pasadena
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $968k less ($171,600 vs $1,139,500)
Rent averages $1263/mo less ($1,159 vs $2,422)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellevue
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 47°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $84,853/yr
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellevue
Median Income
$84,853
$149,551 vs $64,698/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
76% lower
138.6 vs 566.1 per 100k
Bellevue
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
4.0% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$968k less
$171,600 vs $1,139,500
Pasadena
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,139,500⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 | 150,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellevue leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellevue wins 12 and Pasadena wins 11. 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 Bellevue to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $171,600 median home), income ($149,551 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and Pasadena, TX are about 1,896 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.