Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Coast, FL
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Palm Coast leads 10 of 19 categories
Palm Coast
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,824
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Pasadena
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Homes cost $698k less ($283,300 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $479/mo less ($1,621 vs $2,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.1%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $28,994/yr
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,994 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Coast
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$698k less
$283,300 vs $981,600
Palm Coast
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.2% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Income
$28,994
$97,818 vs $68,824/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Coast, FL | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $283,300 ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,621⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,824 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FLAGLER | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,082 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 50.3 ✓ Older | 39.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.9% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 29.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Coast's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Palm Coast is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 10 of 19 categories. Palm Coast wins 10 and Pasadena wins 9. 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 Palm Coast to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,300 vs $981,600 median home), income ($68,824 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Coast, FL and Pasadena, CA are about 2,177 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.