Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Temecula, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories
Pasadena
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Temecula
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
110,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.2%)
Rent averages $122/mo less ($2,100 vs $2,222)
Smaller class sizes — 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio
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 Temecula by $14,063/yr
Temecula, CA
Pros
Homes cost $377k less ($604,300 vs $981,600)
68% less violent crime than Pasadena
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,063 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $2,222/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Temecula
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Temecula
Median Income
$14,063
$111,881 vs $97,818/yr
Temecula
Violent Crime
68% lower
151.5 vs 480.4 per 100k
Temecula
Median Home Value
$377k less
$604,300 vs $981,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Temecula, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $604,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,222⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 | $111,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 14.3% |
| 🔒 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 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Temecula Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 67.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" | 15.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 ✓ Larger | 110,114 |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 68.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Temecula's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Temecula is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories. Pasadena wins 13 and Temecula 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 Temecula or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $604,300 median home), income ($97,818 vs $111,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Temecula, CA are about 74 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.