Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashville-Davidson, TN
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Nashville-Davidson leads 12 of 21 categories
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
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.
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,630 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $180k less ($171,600 vs $351,400)
50% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Rent averages $233/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,392)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 4.6%)
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $6,630/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Nashville-Davidson
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashville-Davidson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$6,630
$71,328 vs $64,698/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Violent Crime
50% lower
566.1 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$180k less
$171,600 vs $351,400
Pasadena
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashville-Davidson, TN | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $351,400⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,328 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.5% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 296⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.5% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davidson County | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.7" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 684,103 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashville-Davidson's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Nashville-Davidson is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Nashville-Davidson leads 12 of 21 categories. Nashville-Davidson wins 12 and Pasadena wins 9. 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 Nashville-Davidson to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($351,400 vs $171,600 median home), income ($71,328 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashville-Davidson, TN and Pasadena, TX are about 661 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.