Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Warren, MI
🏆 Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories
Pasadena
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554
Warren
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,633
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
138,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,185 more per year on average
11% less violent crime than Warren
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 32°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
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Warren
Warren, MI
Pros
Homes cost $812k less ($169,300 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $961/mo less ($1,139 vs $2,100)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 89°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $36,185/yr
Violent crime (541.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$36,185
$97,818 vs $61,633/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
11% lower
480.4 vs 541.8 per 100k
Pasadena
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.4% unemployment
Pasadena
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 83.5°F
Warren
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Warren
Median Home Value
$812k less
$169,300 vs $981,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Warren, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $169,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,139 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $61,633 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 86.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Warren Consolidated Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 32.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" ✓ Drier | 29.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 27.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 | 138,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 38.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 21.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Warren's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Warren is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories. Pasadena wins 13 and Warren 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 Warren or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $169,300 median home), income ($97,818 vs $61,633), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Warren, MI are about 1,973 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.