Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oakland, CA
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Pasadena leads 12 of 22 categories
Oakland
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ 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.
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,691 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
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)
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $712k less ($171,600 vs $883,800)
71% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $690/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,849)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $29,691/yr
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Oakland
Median Income
$29,691
$94,389 vs $64,698/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Violent Crime
71% lower
566.1 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$712k less
$171,600 vs $883,800
Pasadena
Summer Heat
21.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oakland, CA | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,800⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,849⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,389 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.5 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 507⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 344⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oakland Unified | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.5" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 437,825 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oakland's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 12 of 22 categories. Oakland wins 10 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 Oakland to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,800 vs $171,600 median home), income ($94,389 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oakland, CA and Pasadena, TX are about 1,647 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.