Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Independence leads 12 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218
Pasadena
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
150,620 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Independence, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (6.2%)
Homes cost $21k less ($150,800 vs $171,600)
Rent averages $139/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,159)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
More college-educated — 19.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Pasadena by $7,283/yr
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 38°F
Households earn $7,283 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 6.2%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Independence
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$21k less
$150,800 vs $171,600
Independence
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Income
$7,283
$64,698 vs $57,415/yr
Pasadena
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $171,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,159 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $64,698 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 150,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Independence is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Independence leads 12 of 23 categories. Independence wins 12 and Pasadena wins 11. 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 Independence to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $171,600 median home), income ($57,415 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Pasadena, TX are about 653 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.