Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Carlsbad leads 14 of 22 categories
Carlsbad
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Pasadena
Texas
8
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.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $69,441 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Pasadena
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (6.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Pasadena
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $899k less ($171,600 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1318/mo less ($1,159 vs $2,477)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $69,441/yr
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 6.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$69,441
$134,139 vs $64,698/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
65% lower
199.1 vs 566.1 per 100k
Carlsbad
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
6.0% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$899k less
$171,600 vs $1,070,500
Pasadena
Summer Heat
18.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 63.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 150,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 14 of 22 categories. Carlsbad wins 14 and Pasadena wins 8. 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 Carlsbad to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $171,600 median home), income ($134,139 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Pasadena, TX are about 1,325 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.