Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 16 of 21 categories
Compton
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Pasadena
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $492k less ($489,400 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $636/mo less ($1,464 vs $2,100)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $28,090/yr
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pasadena, CA
Pros
62% less violent crime than Compton
Households earn $28,090 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Smaller class sizes — 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Compton
Median Home Value
$492k less
$489,400 vs $981,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Pasadena
Median Income
$28,090
$97,818 vs $69,728/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
62% lower
480.4 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Pasadena
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton'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, Pasadena leads 16 of 21 categories. Compton wins 5 and Pasadena wins 16. 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 Compton to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $981,600 median home), income ($69,728 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Pasadena, CA are about 19 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.