Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 12 of 21 categories
Pasadena
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.2%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
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)
Property crime (2696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
West Covina, CA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Pasadena
Homes cost $317k less ($664,500 vs $981,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.2%)
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$1,599
$97,818 vs $96,219/yr
Pasadena
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.7% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
West Covina
Violent Crime
50% lower
239.3 vs 480.4 per 100k
West Covina
Median Home Value
$317k less
$664,500 vs $981,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $664,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $2,054⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $96,219 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 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 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 67.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 39.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 16.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 12 of 21 categories. Pasadena wins 12 and West Covina wins 9. 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $664,500 median home), income ($97,818 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and West Covina, CA are about 15 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.