Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
Pasadena
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
Homes cost $570k less ($411,700 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $648/mo less ($1,452 vs $2,100)
15% less violent crime than Pasadena
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $28,381/yr
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,381 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Gresham
Violent Crime
15% lower
410.2 vs 480.4 per 100k
Gresham
Median Home Value
$570k less
$411,700 vs $981,600
Pasadena
Median Income
$28,381
$97,818 vs $69,437/yr
Pasadena
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Pasadena
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Gresham is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories. Gresham wins 10 and Pasadena wins 13. 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 Gresham to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $981,600 median home), income ($69,437 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Pasadena, CA are about 816 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.