Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oakland, CA
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 15 of 21 categories
Oakland
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oakland, CA
Pros
Rent averages $251/mo less ($1,849 vs $2,100)
Homes cost $98k less ($883,800 vs $981,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 89°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (7230.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 31.5 min average each way
Pasadena, CA
Pros
75% less violent crime than Oakland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.2%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°F
Households earn $3,429 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Oakland
Median Home Value
$98k less
$883,800 vs $981,600
Pasadena
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Income
$3,429
$97,818 vs $94,389/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
75% lower
480.4 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Pasadena
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Pasadena
Summer Heat
17.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oakland, CA | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,849⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,389 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.5 min⚠ High | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 507⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 344⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oakland Unified | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.5" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 437,825 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oakland's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 15 of 21 categories. Oakland wins 6 and Pasadena wins 15. 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 Oakland to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,800 vs $981,600 median home), income ($94,389 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oakland, CA and Pasadena, CA are about 338 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.