Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chandler, AZ
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Chandler leads 17 of 22 categories
Chandler
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,374 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
Texas
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chandler, AZ
Pros
76% less violent crime than Pasadena
Households earn $34,676 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 46.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 64°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,900
Higher rents — median is $1,675/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $252k less ($171,600 vs $423,900)
Rent averages $516/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,675)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Chandler by $34,676/yr
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chandler
Median Income
$34,676
$99,374 vs $64,698/yr
Chandler
Violent Crime
76% lower
133.4 vs 566.1 per 100k
Chandler
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.9% unemployment
Chandler
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 92.9°F
Pasadena
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 101.4 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$252k less
$171,600 vs $423,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chandler, AZ | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.4⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $423,900⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,675⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,374 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ 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 | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.2% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 63.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 92.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.7" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 275,618 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chandler's cost of living index is 101.4 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chandler leads 17 of 22 categories. Chandler wins 17 and Pasadena wins 5. 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 Chandler to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,900 vs $171,600 median home), income ($99,374 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chandler, AZ and Pasadena, TX are about 1,014 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.