Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Midland leads 12 of 22 categories
Midland
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Pasadena
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Midland, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (3.2%)
36% less violent crime than Pasadena
Households earn $25,750 more per year on average
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $109k less ($171,600 vs $280,700)
Rent averages $241/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,400)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $25,750/yr
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 3.2%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Midland
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$25,750
$90,448 vs $64,698/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
36% lower
364.9 vs 566.1 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$109k less
$171,600 vs $280,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 92.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 | 150,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% | 28.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 11.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Midland is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Midland leads 12 of 22 categories. Midland 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 Midland to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $171,600 median home), income ($90,448 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Pasadena, TX are about 444 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.