Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fishers, IN
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Fishers leads 15 of 23 categories
Fishers
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$126,548 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
99,041
Pasadena
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
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.
Fishers, IN
Pros
Homes cost $643k less ($339,000 vs $981,600)
85% less violent crime than Pasadena
Rent averages $622/mo less ($1,478 vs $2,100)
Households earn $28,730 more per year on average
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (2.5%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fishers by $28,730/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fishers
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fishers
Median Income
$28,730
$126,548 vs $97,818/yr
Fishers
Violent Crime
85% lower
72.9 vs 480.4 per 100k
Fishers
Median Home Value
$643k less
$339,000 vs $981,600
Fishers
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
2.5% vs 5.2% unemployment
Pasadena
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fishers, IN | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,478⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $126,548 ✓ Higher | $97,818 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.5% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.8% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 24 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 54.5% |
| High School or Higher | 98.0% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton Southeastern Schools | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,041 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.1% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fishers's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fishers is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fishers leads 15 of 23 categories. Fishers wins 15 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 Fishers to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,000 vs $981,600 median home), income ($126,548 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fishers, IN and Pasadena, CA are about 1,808 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.