Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Seattle leads 13 of 23 categories
Pasadena
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554
Seattle
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Seattle
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Cons
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Seattle by $18,250/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $18,250 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $102k less ($879,900 vs $981,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Rent averages $155/mo less ($1,945 vs $2,100)
Cons
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5007.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Violent Crime
38% lower
480.4 vs 775.1 per 100k
Pasadena
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Seattle
Median Income
$18,250
$116,068 vs $97,818/yr
Seattle
Median Home Value
$102k less
$879,900 vs $981,600
Seattle
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $879,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,945⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Seattle is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Seattle leads 13 of 23 categories. Pasadena wins 10 and Seattle 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $879,900 median home), income ($97,818 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Seattle, WA are about 955 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.