Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 13 of 22 categories
Pasadena
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
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
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Households earn $9,352 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 104°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
Cost of living runs 16% higher than San Tan Valley
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $678k less ($304,000 vs $981,600)
51% less violent crime than Pasadena
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $371/mo less ($1,729 vs $2,100)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.5%)
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $9,352/yr
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$9,352
$97,818 vs $88,466/yr
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
51% lower
235.7 vs 480.4 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$678k less
$304,000 vs $981,600
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.2% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
15.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 89.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,729⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $88,466 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 13 of 22 categories. Pasadena wins 9 and San Tan Valley wins 13. 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 Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $304,000 median home), income ($97,818 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 384 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.