Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Pasadena leads 15 of 23 categories
Pasadena
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,281 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 42°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $766k less ($215,500 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $850/mo less ($1,250 vs $2,100)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $40,281/yr
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$40,281
$97,818 vs $57,537/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
47% lower
480.4 vs 908.7 per 100k
Pasadena
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$766k less
$215,500 vs $981,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 15 of 23 categories. Pasadena wins 15 and Philadelphia 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 Pasadena to Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $215,500 median home), income ($97,818 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Philadelphia, PA are about 2,381 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.