Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Pasadena leads 14 of 22 categories
El Monte
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Pasadena
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Monte, CA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (7.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Pasadena
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $426k less ($171,600 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $446/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,605)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $4,769 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 7.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Violent Crime
25% lower
423.2 vs 566.1 per 100k
El Monte
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
7.0% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Income
$4,769
$64,698 vs $59,929/yr
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$426k less
$171,600 vs $597,200
Pasadena
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $64,698 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 73.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 63.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 150,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 14 of 22 categories. El Monte wins 8 and Pasadena wins 14. 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 $171,600 median home), income ($59,929 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Pasadena, TX are about 1,374 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.