Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 12 of 22 categories
Pasadena
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°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 Tracy by $13,899/yr
Tracy, CA
Pros
Homes cost $364k less ($617,300 vs $981,600)
37% less violent crime than Pasadena
Households earn $13,899 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Tracy
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Income
$13,899
$111,717 vs $97,818/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
37% lower
301.4 vs 480.4 per 100k
Tracy
Median Home Value
$364k less
$617,300 vs $981,600
Tracy
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 89.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $617,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 12 of 22 categories. Pasadena wins 12 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $617,300 median home), income ($97,818 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Tracy, CA are about 308 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.