Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Lakewood
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
California
11
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.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Homes cost $488k less ($494,100 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $435/mo less ($1,665 vs $2,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.4%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pasadena by $15,032/yr
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Pasadena, CA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Lakewood
Households earn $15,032 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Home Value
$488k less
$494,100 vs $981,600
Lakewood
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Income
$15,032
$97,818 vs $82,786/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
39% lower
480.4 vs 787.2 per 100k
Pasadena
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 17.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 16.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Lakewood wins 11 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 Lakewood to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $981,600 median home), income ($82,786 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Pasadena, CA are about 813 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.