Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 13 of 22 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
Sacramento
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
36% less violent crime than Sacramento
Households earn $18,864 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Homes cost $531k less ($450,500 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $508/mo less ($1,592 vs $2,100)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pasadena by $18,864/yr
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$18,864
$97,818 vs $78,954/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
36% lower
480.4 vs 754.9 per 100k
Pasadena
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sacramento
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$531k less
$450,500 vs $981,600
Sacramento
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 89.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Sacramento, 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 | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" ✓ Drier | 20.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Sacramento is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 13 of 22 categories. Pasadena wins 13 and Sacramento wins 9. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $450,500 median home), income ($97,818 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Sacramento, CA are about 356 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.