Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Long Beach
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
150,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.6%)
Households earn $14,297 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $538k less ($171,600 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $539/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,698)
16% less violent crime than Long Beach
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Long Beach by $14,297/yr
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Long Beach
Median Income
$14,297
$78,995 vs $64,698/yr
Long Beach
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Violent Crime
16% lower
566.1 vs 676.4 per 100k
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$538k less
$171,600 vs $709,700
Pasadena
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 63.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Long Beach 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 Long Beach to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $171,600 median home), income ($78,995 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Pasadena, TX are about 1,379 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.