Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Corona, CA
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Corona leads 14 of 22 categories
Corona
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,727 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
66 ✓ Safer
Population
158,346 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
California
8
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.
Corona, CA
Pros
Homes cost $357k less ($624,200 vs $981,600)
48% less violent crime than Pasadena
Violent crime is well below the national average (249.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.6%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Households earn $5,909 more per year on average
Cons
Longer commutes — 35.3 min average each way
Pasadena, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
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)
Property crime (2696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Corona
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Corona
Median Income
$5,909
$103,727 vs $97,818/yr
Corona
Violent Crime
48% lower
249.4 vs 480.4 per 100k
Corona
Median Home Value
$357k less
$624,200 vs $981,600
Corona
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Corona
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.7°F vs 89.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Corona, CA | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $624,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,020⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,727 ✓ Higher | $97,818 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.3 min⚠ High | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.5% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Corona-Norco Unified | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 68.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.7°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.3" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 158,346 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.1% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Corona's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Corona is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Corona leads 14 of 22 categories. Corona wins 14 and Pasadena wins 8. 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 Corona to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,200 vs $981,600 median home), income ($103,727 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Corona, CA and Pasadena, CA are about 39 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.