Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, TX
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 San Antonio leads 12 of 23 categories
Pasadena
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
150,620
San Antonio
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, TX
Pros
5% less violent crime than San Antonio
Homes cost $26k less ($171,600 vs $198,000)
Households earn $5,105 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 5.9%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.9%)
More college-educated — 27.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Pasadena by $5,105/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$5,105
$64,698 vs $59,593/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
5% lower
566.1 vs 594.1 per 100k
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$26k less
$171,600 vs $198,000
San Antonio
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, TX | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $171,600 ✓ Lower | $198,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,159 ✓ Lower | $1,189 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,698 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 24.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.9% | 27.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 73.0% | 83.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PASADENA ISD | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.9°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.1" | 34.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,620 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 100.2 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Antonio leads 12 of 23 categories. Pasadena wins 11 and San Antonio 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 San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,600 vs $198,000 median home), income ($64,698 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, TX and San Antonio, TX are about 203 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.