Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Daly City, CA
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 15 of 22 categories
Daly City
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,910 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
78 ✓ Safer
Population
103,648
Pasadena
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,818
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Daly City, CA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Pasadena
Households earn $17,092 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 89°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Higher rents — median is $2,554/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $1,073,100
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Pasadena
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Rent averages $454/mo less ($2,100 vs $2,554)
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $92k less ($981,600 vs $1,073,100)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Daly City
Cons
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)
Median income trails Daly City by $17,092/yr
Property crime (2696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Daly City
Median Income
$17,092
$114,910 vs $97,818/yr
Daly City
Violent Crime
38% lower
296.3 vs 480.4 per 100k
Pasadena
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$92k less
$981,600 vs $1,073,100
Pasadena
Summer Heat
27.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Daly City, 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 | $1,073,100⚠ High | $981,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,554⚠ High | $2,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $114,910 ✓ Higher | $97,818 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.8 min⚠ High | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 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 | 78 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 86 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.8% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Elementary | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.6" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,648 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 39.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | 17.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Daly City'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 15 of 22 categories. Daly City wins 7 and Pasadena wins 15. 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 Daly City to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,073,100 vs $981,600 median home), income ($114,910 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Daly City, CA and Pasadena, CA are about 344 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.