Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Pasadena
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554
Phoenix
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
40% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $25,726 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 104°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 17% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $641k less ($340,200 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $778/mo less ($1,322 vs $2,100)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $25,726/yr
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$25,726
$97,818 vs $72,092/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
40% lower
480.4 vs 799.6 per 100k
Phoenix
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$641k less
$340,200 vs $981,600
Phoenix
Summer Heat
14.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 89.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 14.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 65.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Pasadena wins 11 and Phoenix wins 11. 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $340,200 median home), income ($97,818 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Phoenix, AZ are about 349 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.