Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 11 of 21 categories
Glendale
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
40% less violent crime than Pasadena
Rent averages $98/mo less ($2,002 vs $2,100)
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $16,599/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $16,599 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio
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)
Property crime (2696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Violent Crime
40% lower
287.2 vs 480.4 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Pasadena
Median Income
$16,599
$97,818 vs $81,219/yr
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$10k less
$981,600 vs $992,000
Pasadena
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.1% unemployment
Pasadena
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $981,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 68.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 39.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 16.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale'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, Glendale leads 11 of 21 categories. Glendale wins 11 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 Glendale to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $981,600 median home), income ($81,219 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Pasadena, CA are about 6 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.