Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Carson leads 11 of 21 categories
Carson
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Pasadena
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818
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.
Carson, CA
Pros
Homes cost $366k less ($616,000 vs $981,600)
13% less violent crime than Pasadena
Rent averages $285/mo less ($1,815 vs $2,100)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Households earn $5,227 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Smaller class sizes — 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
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)
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$5,227
$103,045 vs $97,818/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
13% lower
420.0 vs 480.4 per 100k
Carson
Median Home Value
$366k less
$616,000 vs $981,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Pasadena
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $97,818 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 39.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 16.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Carson leads 11 of 21 categories. Carson wins 11 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 Carson to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $981,600 median home), income ($103,045 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Pasadena, CA are about 23 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.