Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 14 of 22 categories
Berkeley
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385
Pasadena
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,818
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 89°F
Households earn $6,898 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (5229.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pasadena, CA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Berkeley
Homes cost $299k less ($981,600 vs $1,280,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Cons
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Berkeley by $6,898/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$6,898
$104,716 vs $97,818/yr
Pasadena
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Violent Crime
25% lower
480.4 vs 638.8 per 100k
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$299k less
$981,600 vs $1,280,300
Pasadena
Summer Heat
14.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $981,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $97,818 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 54.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 17.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 14 of 22 categories. Berkeley wins 8 and Pasadena wins 14. 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 Berkeley to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $981,600 median home), income ($104,716 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Pasadena, CA are about 346 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.