Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hampton, VA
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories
Hampton
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217
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.
Hampton, VA
Pros
Homes cost $762k less ($219,800 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $845/mo less ($1,255 vs $2,100)
48% less violent crime than Pasadena
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $33,388/yr
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,388 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°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
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Hampton
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hampton
Violent Crime
48% lower
247.6 vs 480.4 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$762k less
$219,800 vs $981,600
Pasadena
Median Income
$33,388
$97,818 vs $64,430/yr
Pasadena
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hampton, VA | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $219,800 ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,430 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 94 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hampton City Public Schools | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,217 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories. Hampton 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 Hampton to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($219,800 vs $981,600 median home), income ($64,430 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hampton, VA and Pasadena, CA are about 2,340 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.