Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno leads 12 of 22 categories
Pasadena
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554
Reno
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,073
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,745 more per year on average
9% less violent crime than Reno
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 46°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)
Reno, NV
Pros
Homes cost $520k less ($462,100 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $740/mo less ($1,360 vs $2,100)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Smaller class sizes — 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $24,745/yr
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$24,745
$97,818 vs $73,073/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
9% lower
480.4 vs 529.6 per 100k
Reno
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Reno
Median Home Value
$520k less
$462,100 vs $981,600
Reno
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 89.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $462,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $73,073 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 45.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 19.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Reno is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Reno leads 12 of 22 categories. Pasadena wins 10 and Reno wins 12. 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $462,100 median home), income ($97,818 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Reno, NV are about 384 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.