Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories
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
Portland
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
33% less violent crime than Portland
Households earn $11,942 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Portland, OR
Pros
Homes cost $459k less ($523,100 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $570/mo less ($1,530 vs $2,100)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 89°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pasadena by $11,942/yr
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$11,942
$97,818 vs $85,876/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
33% lower
480.4 vs 720.1 per 100k
Pasadena
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Median Home Value
$459k less
$523,100 vs $981,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $523,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $85,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 52.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 38.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Portland is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories. Pasadena wins 13 and Portland wins 10. 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $523,100 median home), income ($97,818 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Portland, OR are about 821 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.