Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Visalia leads 12 of 23 categories
Pasadena
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554
Visalia
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,658
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
141,466 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,160 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 55°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)
Visalia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $665k less ($316,600 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $811/mo less ($1,289 vs $2,100)
9% less violent crime than Pasadena
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $22,160/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$22,160
$97,818 vs $75,658/yr
Visalia
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Visalia
Violent Crime
9% lower
435.3 vs 480.4 per 100k
Visalia
Median Home Value
$665k less
$316,600 vs $981,600
Visalia
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 89.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,289 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $75,658 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 21.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 86.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 55.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 | 141,466 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 28.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Visalia is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Visalia leads 12 of 23 categories. Pasadena wins 11 and Visalia wins 12. 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $316,600 median home), income ($97,818 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Visalia, CA are about 164 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.