Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Midland leads 13 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Pasadena
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Midland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $701k less ($280,700 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $700/mo less ($1,400 vs $2,100)
24% less violent crime than Pasadena
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $7,370/yr
Pasadena, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,370 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 95°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 21% higher than Midland
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Violent Crime
24% lower
364.9 vs 480.4 per 100k
Midland
Median Home Value
$701k less
$280,700 vs $981,600
Midland
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 89.1°F
Pasadena
Median Income
$7,370
$97,818 vs $90,448/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Midland is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 13 of 23 categories. Midland wins 13 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 Midland to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $981,600 median home), income ($90,448 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Pasadena, CA are about 938 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.