Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New York, NY
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Pasadena leads 12 of 23 categories
New York
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
Texas
12
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.
New York, NY
Pros
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $11,909 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (7.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $561k less ($171,600 vs $732,100)
Rent averages $555/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,714)
16% less violent crime than New York
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New York by $11,909/yr
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 7.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
New York
Median Income
$11,909
$76,607 vs $64,698/yr
New York
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
7.6% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Violent Crime
16% lower
566.1 vs 671.0 per 100k
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$561k less
$171,600 vs $732,100
Pasadena
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $732,100⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,714⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,607 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.1 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 83.3% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.9% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New York's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 12 of 23 categories. New York wins 11 and Pasadena wins 12. 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 New York to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($732,100 vs $171,600 median home), income ($76,607 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New York, NY and Pasadena, TX are about 1,413 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.