Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 13 of 22 categories
Pasadena
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554
San Jose
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
21% less violent crime than San Jose
Rent averages $426/mo less ($2,100 vs $2,526)
Homes cost $168k less ($981,600 vs $1,149,600)
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $38,192/yr
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)
Property crime (2696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,192 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Violent Crime
21% lower
480.4 vs 606.8 per 100k
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$168k less
$981,600 vs $1,149,600
Pasadena
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Jose
Median Income
$38,192
$136,010 vs $97,818/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 16.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 37.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
San Jose is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 13 of 22 categories. Pasadena wins 13 and San Jose 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 San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($97,818 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and San Jose, CA are about 299 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.