Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palmdale, CA
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Palmdale leads 13 of 22 categories
Palmdale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
Texas
9
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.
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Households earn $13,716 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (7.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $226k less ($171,600 vs $397,500)
Rent averages $466/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,625)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Palmdale by $13,716/yr
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 7.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Palmdale
Median Income
$13,716
$78,414 vs $64,698/yr
Palmdale
Violent Crime
3% lower
551.0 vs 566.1 per 100k
Palmdale
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
7.4% vs 8.9% unemployment
Palmdale
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 92.9°F
Pasadena
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$226k less
$171,600 vs $397,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palmdale, CA | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $397,500⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,625⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,414 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.3 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (59) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Palmdale Elementary | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 92.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 7.3" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 166,895 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 33.0 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 29.0% ✓ More | 28.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 11.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palmdale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Palmdale leads 13 of 22 categories. Palmdale wins 13 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 Palmdale to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($397,500 vs $171,600 median home), income ($78,414 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palmdale, CA and Pasadena, TX are about 1,382 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.