Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Los Angeles leads 12 of 22 categories
Los Angeles
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
Texas
10
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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $11,546 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (7.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Violent crime (728.5/100k) 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 $651k less ($171,600 vs $822,600)
Rent averages $632/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,791)
22% less violent crime than Los Angeles
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Commutes run 6 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 Los Angeles by $11,546/yr
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 7.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Los Angeles
Median Income
$11,546
$76,244 vs $64,698/yr
Los Angeles
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
7.7% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Violent Crime
22% lower
566.1 vs 728.5 per 100k
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$651k less
$171,600 vs $822,600
Pasadena
Summer Heat
14.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 63.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles'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, Los Angeles leads 12 of 22 categories. Los Angeles wins 12 and Pasadena wins 10. 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 Los Angeles to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $171,600 median home), income ($76,244 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Pasadena, TX are about 1,395 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.