Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chula Vista, CA
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Chula Vista
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,984 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
276,103 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818
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.
Chula Vista, CA
Pros
Homes cost $335k less ($647,100 vs $981,600)
22% less violent crime than Pasadena
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 89°F
Households earn $4,166 more per year on average
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.8% vs 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Property crime (2696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chula Vista
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chula Vista
Median Income
$4,166
$101,984 vs $97,818/yr
Chula Vista
Violent Crime
22% lower
375.8 vs 480.4 per 100k
Chula Vista
Median Home Value
$335k less
$647,100 vs $981,600
Pasadena
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.8% unemployment
Pasadena
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 74.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chula Vista, CA | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $647,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,035⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,984 ✓ Higher | $97,818 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.8%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.3% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chula Vista Elementary | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.6°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,103 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chula Vista's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chula Vista is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Chula Vista wins 11 and Pasadena wins 11. 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 Chula Vista to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($647,100 vs $981,600 median home), income ($101,984 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chula Vista, CA and Pasadena, CA are about 124 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.