Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Glendale leads 14 of 22 categories
Glendale
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
Texas
8
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.
Glendale, CA
Pros
49% less violent crime than Pasadena
Households earn $16,521 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (8.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 64°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/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 $820k less ($171,600 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $843/mo less ($1,159 vs $2,002)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Glendale by $16,521/yr
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 8.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$16,521
$81,219 vs $64,698/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
49% lower
287.2 vs 566.1 per 100k
Glendale
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
8.1% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$820k less
$171,600 vs $992,000
Pasadena
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, 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 | $992,000⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 63.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale'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, Glendale leads 14 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 14 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 Glendale to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $171,600 median home), income ($81,219 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Pasadena, TX are about 1,387 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.