Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $754k less ($227,200 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $731/mo less ($1,369 vs $2,100)
18% less violent crime than Pasadena
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $43,378/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,378 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
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)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
18% lower
392.9 vs 480.4 per 100k
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$754k less
$227,200 vs $981,600
Pasadena
Median Income
$43,378
$97,818 vs $54,440/yr
Pasadena
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
5.2% vs 9.5% unemployment
Pasadena
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bridgeport is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 10 and Pasadena wins 13. 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 Bridgeport to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $981,600 median home), income ($54,440 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Pasadena, CA are about 2,477 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.