Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 16 of 22 categories
Pasadena
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554
Surprise
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
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
Households earn $10,062 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 105°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)
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Surprise
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $629k less ($352,600 vs $981,600)
77% less violent crime than Pasadena
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Rent averages $278/mo less ($1,822 vs $2,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $10,062/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$10,062
$97,818 vs $87,756/yr
Surprise
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Violent Crime
77% lower
109.1 vs 480.4 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$629k less
$352,600 vs $981,600
Surprise
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
15.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 89.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,822⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $87,756 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.9 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 16 of 22 categories. Pasadena wins 6 and Surprise wins 16. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $352,600 median home), income ($97,818 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Surprise, AZ are about 328 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.