Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Pasadena leads 16 of 23 categories
Pasadena
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $53,374 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
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)
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $870k less ($111,200 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $923/mo less ($1,177 vs $2,100)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $53,374/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$53,374
$97,818 vs $44,444/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
53% lower
480.4 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Pasadena
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Median Home Value
$870k less
$111,200 vs $981,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 16 of 23 categories. Pasadena wins 16 and Trenton wins 7. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $111,200 median home), income ($97,818 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Trenton, NJ are about 2,400 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.