Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 14 of 23 categories
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,114
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
629,176 ✓ 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.
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
Homes cost $777k less ($204,800 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $1086/mo less ($1,014 vs $2,100)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $34,704/yr
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,704 more per year on average
32% less violent crime than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 42°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
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Key Differences at a Glance
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 94.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Home Value
$777k less
$204,800 vs $981,600
Pasadena
Median Income
$34,704
$97,818 vs $63,114/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
32% lower
480.4 vs 707.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $204,800 ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,114 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.4°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 15.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 629,176 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's cost of living index is 94.0 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 14 of 23 categories. Louisville/Jefferson County metro government wins 9 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($204,800 vs $981,600 median home), income ($63,114 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY and Pasadena, CA are about 1,824 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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