Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 16 of 22 categories
Concord
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High
Population
125,007
Pasadena
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,818
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.
Concord, CA
Pros
Homes cost $275k less ($706,700 vs $981,600)
Households earn $9,971 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (484.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (2886.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Pasadena, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
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
Concord
Median Income
$9,971
$107,789 vs $97,818/yr
Concord
Median Home Value
$275k less
$706,700 vs $981,600
Pasadena
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $706,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High | $2,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 ✓ Higher | $97,818 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 16 of 22 categories. Concord wins 6 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 Concord to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $981,600 median home), income ($107,789 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Pasadena, CA are about 340 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.