Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Carrollton leads 13 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,380
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
Pasadena
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $654k less ($327,300 vs $981,600)
71% less violent crime than Pasadena
Rent averages $545/mo less ($1,555 vs $2,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.7%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°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
Carrollton
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Carrollton
Violent Crime
71% lower
137.1 vs 480.4 per 100k
Carrollton
Median Home Value
$654k less
$327,300 vs $981,600
Carrollton
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.2% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 89.1°F
Pasadena
Median Income
$2,438
$97,818 vs $95,380/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Carrollton is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 13 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 13 and Pasadena wins 10. 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 Carrollton to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $981,600 median home), income ($95,380 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Pasadena, CA are about 1,223 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.