Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oceanside, CA
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Oceanside leads 14 of 22 categories
Oceanside
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,701 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
173,722 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oceanside, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,003 more per year on average
19% less violent crime than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.9%)
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $644,600
Higher rents — median is $2,078/mo
Violent crime (458.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $473k less ($171,600 vs $644,600)
Rent averages $919/mo less ($1,159 vs $2,078)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Oceanside
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oceanside by $22,003/yr
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Oceanside
Median Income
$22,003
$86,701 vs $64,698/yr
Oceanside
Violent Crime
19% lower
458.7 vs 566.1 per 100k
Oceanside
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$473k less
$171,600 vs $644,600
Pasadena
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oceanside, CA | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $644,600⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,078⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,701 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.8 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (76) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 27.3:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.7% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scholarship Prep - Oceanside District | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.7°F ✓ Warmer | 63.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 173,722 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oceanside's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Oceanside leads 14 of 22 categories. Oceanside wins 14 and Pasadena wins 8. 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 Oceanside to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($644,600 vs $171,600 median home), income ($86,701 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oceanside, CA and Pasadena, TX are about 1,327 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.