Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 12 of 21 categories
El Monte
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Pasadena
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Homes cost $384k less ($597,200 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $495/mo less ($1,605 vs $2,100)
12% less violent crime than Pasadena
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $37,889/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,889 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.2%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Violent Crime
12% lower
423.2 vs 480.4 per 100k
El Monte
Median Home Value
$384k less
$597,200 vs $981,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Pasadena
Median Income
$37,889
$97,818 vs $59,929/yr
Pasadena
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.0% unemployment
Pasadena
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 68.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte'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 12 of 21 categories. El Monte wins 9 and Pasadena wins 12. 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 El Monte to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $981,600 median home), income ($59,929 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Pasadena, CA are about 9 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.