Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Roswell, GA
🏆 Roswell leads 17 of 23 categories
Pasadena
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Roswell
Georgia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Median income trails Roswell by $25,106/yr
Roswell, GA
Pros
Homes cost $502k less ($479,400 vs $981,600)
67% less violent crime than Pasadena
Rent averages $481/mo less ($1,619 vs $2,100)
Households earn $25,106 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Roswell
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Roswell
Median Income
$25,106
$122,924 vs $97,818/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
67% lower
160.1 vs 480.4 per 100k
Roswell
Median Home Value
$502k less
$479,400 vs $981,600
Roswell
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Roswell, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $479,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,619⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 | $122,924 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% | 63.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 51.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 ✓ Larger | 92,770 |
| Median Age | 39.9 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 70.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Roswell's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Roswell is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 17 of 23 categories. Pasadena wins 6 and Roswell wins 17. 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 Roswell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $479,400 median home), income ($97,818 vs $122,924), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Roswell, GA are about 1,924 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.