Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, TX
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 12 of 22 categories
Pasadena
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
150,620 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1483k less ($171,600 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $1068/mo less ($1,159 vs $2,227)
27% less violent crime than Santa Monica
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $42,099/yr
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 6.2%)
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,099 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (6.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Violent Crime
27% lower
566.1 vs 778.0 per 100k
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$1483k less
$171,600 vs $1,654,800
Pasadena
Summer Heat
23.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$42,099
$106,797 vs $64,698/yr
Santa Monica
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, TX | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,600 ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,159 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,698 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.9%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.9% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 73.0% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PASADENA ISD | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer | 62.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.1" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,620 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 12 of 22 categories. Pasadena wins 12 and Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,600 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($64,698 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, TX and Santa Monica, CA are about 1,400 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.