Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 14 of 22 categories
Pasadena
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Simi Valley
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
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
Rent averages $302/mo less ($2,100 vs $2,402)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
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)
Median income trails Simi Valley by $14,326/yr
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
73% less violent crime than Pasadena
Homes cost $277k less ($704,200 vs $981,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $14,326 more per year on average
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Simi Valley
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Simi Valley
Median Income
$14,326
$112,144 vs $97,818/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
73% lower
129.1 vs 480.4 per 100k
Simi Valley
Median Home Value
$277k less
$704,200 vs $981,600
Simi Valley
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 89.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $704,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 14.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 36.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 ✓ Larger | 126,153 |
| Median Age | 39.9 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 16.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Simi Valley is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 14 of 22 categories. Pasadena wins 8 and Simi Valley wins 14. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $704,200 median home), income ($97,818 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Simi Valley, CA are about 36 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.