Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oklahoma City, OK
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
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.
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Homes cost $785k less ($196,700 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $1088/mo less ($1,012 vs $2,100)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $33,567/yr
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,567 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Oklahoma City
Key Differences at a Glance
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$785k less
$196,700 vs $981,600
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.2% unemployment
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 89.1°F
Pasadena
Median Income
$33,567
$97,818 vs $64,251/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
29% lower
480.4 vs 676.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,700 ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,012 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,251 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.5% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OKLAHOMA CITY | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 681,088 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oklahoma City's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories. Oklahoma City wins 10 and Pasadena wins 13. 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 Oklahoma City to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,700 vs $981,600 median home), income ($64,251 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oklahoma City, OK and Pasadena, CA are about 1,171 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.