Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Fort Worth leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
19% less violent crime than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,028 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Pasadena
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($171,600 vs $250,300)
Rent averages $154/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,313)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 59°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Worth by $8,028/yr
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Median Income
$8,028
$72,726 vs $64,698/yr
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
19% lower
458.4 vs 566.1 per 100k
Fort Worth
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.9% unemployment
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 92.9°F
Pasadena
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$79k less
$171,600 vs $250,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 92.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 33.2 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 11.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Worth wins 13 and Pasadena wins 10. 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 Fort Worth to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $171,600 median home), income ($72,726 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and Pasadena, TX are about 252 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.