Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CA
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Norwalk leads 12 of 22 categories
Norwalk
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893
Pasadena
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,561 more per year on average
34% less violent crime than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 20.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 64°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Pasadena
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $422k less ($171,600 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $701/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,860)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $26,561/yr
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Median Income
$26,561
$91,259 vs $64,698/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
34% lower
374.4 vs 566.1 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$422k less
$171,600 vs $593,100
Pasadena
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CA | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,100⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,860⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,259 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 63.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,893 | 150,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.6% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 12 of 22 categories. Norwalk 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 Norwalk to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,100 vs $171,600 median home), income ($91,259 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CA and Pasadena, TX are about 1,375 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.