Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 14 of 22 categories
Houston
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $747k less ($235,000 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $865/mo less ($1,235 vs $2,100)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $37,378/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,378 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Houston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 63°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
Houston
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$747k less
$235,000 vs $981,600
Houston
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 89.1°F
Pasadena
Median Income
$37,378
$97,818 vs $60,440/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
58% lower
480.4 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Pasadena
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Houston is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 14 of 22 categories. Houston wins 8 and Pasadena wins 14. 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 Houston to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $981,600 median home), income ($60,440 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Pasadena, CA are about 1,364 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.