Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 11 of 21 categories
Pasadena
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Homes cost $673k less ($981,600 vs $1,654,800)
38% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 62°F
Rent averages $127/mo less ($2,100 vs $2,227)
Cons
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
Median income trails Santa Monica by $8,979/yr
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 89°F
Households earn $8,979 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (4790.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Violent Crime
38% lower
480.4 vs 778.0 per 100k
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$673k less
$981,600 vs $1,654,800
Pasadena
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Pasadena
Summer Heat
19.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 69.4°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Santa Monica
Median Income
$8,979
$106,797 vs $97,818/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 62.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 39.9 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.8% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 11 of 21 categories. Pasadena wins 11 and Santa Monica wins 10. 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($97,818 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Santa Monica, CA are about 23 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.