Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 15 of 22 categories
Pasadena
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554
Roseville
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
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)
Median income trails Roseville by $14,447/yr
Roseville, CA
Pros
Homes cost $385k less ($596,700 vs $981,600)
54% less violent crime than Pasadena
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,447 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.5%)
Rent averages $160/mo less ($1,940 vs $2,100)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Roseville
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Roseville
Median Income
$14,447
$112,265 vs $97,818/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
54% lower
219.2 vs 480.4 per 100k
Roseville
Median Home Value
$385k less
$596,700 vs $981,600
Roseville
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.2% unemployment
Roseville
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 89.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $596,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,940⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 19.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 55.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" ✓ Drier | 20.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 | 148,879 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 39.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Roseville is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Roseville leads 15 of 22 categories. Pasadena wins 7 and Roseville wins 15. 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $596,700 median home), income ($97,818 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Roseville, CA are about 364 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.