Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, TX
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Visalia leads 14 of 23 categories
Pasadena
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620 ✓ Larger
Visalia
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,658 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
141,466
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $145k less ($171,600 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $130/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,289)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 55°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Visalia by $10,960/yr
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 5.6%)
Visalia, CA
Pros
23% less violent crime than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $10,960 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 23.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 101.3 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$145k less
$171,600 vs $316,600
Visalia
Median Income
$10,960
$75,658 vs $64,698/yr
Visalia
Violent Crime
23% lower
435.3 vs 566.1 per 100k
Visalia
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, TX | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 101.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,600 ✓ Lower | $316,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,159 ✓ Lower | $1,289 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,698 | $75,658 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.9%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 21.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 134⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.9% | 23.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 73.0% | 86.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PASADENA ISD | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer | 55.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.9°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.1" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,620 ✓ Larger | 141,466 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 33.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 28.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Visalia leads 14 of 23 categories. Pasadena wins 9 and Visalia wins 14. 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 ($171,600 vs $316,600 median home), income ($64,698 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, TX and Visalia, CA are about 1,470 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.