Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Pasadena leads 16 of 23 categories
Pasadena
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,664 more per year on average
36% less violent crime than Portsmouth
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°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 18% higher than Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $768k less ($213,300 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $875/mo less ($1,225 vs $2,100)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $40,664/yr
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$40,664
$97,818 vs $57,154/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
36% lower
480.4 vs 752.4 per 100k
Pasadena
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$768k less
$213,300 vs $981,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 16 of 23 categories. Pasadena wins 16 and Portsmouth wins 7. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $213,300 median home), income ($97,818 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Portsmouth, VA are about 2,339 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.