Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Urban Honolulu, HI
🏆 Urban Honolulu 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
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,772
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
348,547 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,046 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Urban Honolulu, HI
Pros
61% less violent crime than Pasadena
Violent crime is well below the national average (185.2 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $176k less ($805,500 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $366/mo less ($1,734 vs $2,100)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $15,046/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$15,046
$97,818 vs $82,772/yr
Pasadena
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 79.0°F
Urban Honolulu
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Urban Honolulu
Violent Crime
61% lower
185.2 vs 480.4 per 100k
Urban Honolulu
Median Home Value
$176k less
$805,500 vs $981,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Urban Honolulu, HI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 106.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $805,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,734⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $82,772 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 22.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Hawaii Department of Education |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F | 76.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer | 79.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" ✓ Drier | 31.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 | 348,547 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.9 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 48.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.8% | 21.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Urban Honolulu's 106.8 (US average = 100).
Urban Honolulu is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Urban Honolulu leads 16 of 22 categories. Pasadena wins 6 and Urban Honolulu 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 Urban Honolulu or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $805,500 median home), income ($97,818 vs $82,772), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Urban Honolulu, HI are about 2,566 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.