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Living in
Pasadena.
About
Life in Pasadena
If you're thinking about moving to Pasadena, you're looking at a dense, educated, culturally mixed community of about 138,000 people in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley—not a small town, not sprawling suburbia. About a third of the population is Latino, another third is White, and significant Asian and African American communities round out the mix, creating a genuinely diverse place to live. The median household income sits at $105,192, and over half of adults hold bachelor's degrees, which shapes both the character of the city and the cost of living you'll encounter.
Pasadena at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.3%
Foreign-Born
28.2%
Broadband Internet
93.9%
of households
Population Growth
-2.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics28.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Pasadena: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Pasadena, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (27.0%), and 24.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.7%
of residents
65 and Older
17.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.5%
of households
Married Couples
38.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.30
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 11% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Pasadena
In Pasadena, rent runs 11% above the CA average, and home values are 49% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,843
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
42.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1961
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,186,459 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in Pasadena and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Pasadena is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Pasadena Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area
Commute26.9 min avg
How Pasadena residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Pasadena, most residents drive alone to work (56%), and 60% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 mi
Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR)
Medium hub3.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 21 mi
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Major hub36.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 27% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Pasadena runs 27% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
419.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,357.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Pasadena Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 21 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
100.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Los Angeles County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Los Angeles County, which includes Pasadena, the most common type is high wind, with 21 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | High Wind | $3,000 |
| 2024 | 27 | High Wind | $5,000 |
| 2023 | 21 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 7 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 5 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 4 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 2 | Wildfire | None reported |
| 2018 | 3 | Debris Flow | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
172 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Pasadena is about 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality74 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Los Angeles County, which includes Pasadena, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
74
Good Days
39
per year
Moderate Days
228
per year
Unhealthy Days
32
per year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Pasadena is about 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate88°F summers, 45°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Pasadena has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and warm winters (avg low 45°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/51°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
83°/56°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
68°/45°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
20.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
74
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
43
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68°F | 46°F | 4.51" |
| Feb | 69°F | 46°F | 5.16" |
| Mar | 73°F | 48°F | 3.03" |
| Apr | 76°F | 51°F | 1.11" |
| May | 78°F | 54°F | 0.48" |
| Jun | 84°F | 58°F | 0.21" |
| Jul | 89°F | 62°F | 0.06" |
| Aug | 91°F | 63°F | 0.03" |
| Sep | 90°F | 62°F | 0.22" |
| Oct | 83°F | 56°F | 0.84" |
| Nov | 75°F | 50°F | 1.10" |
| Dec | 67°F | 45°F | 3.33" |
Healthcare2 hospitals
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Pasadena
Pasadena has 2 hospitals.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
5.7%
of residents
Huntington Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Aurora Las Encinas
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
San Gabriel Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.4 mi away · San Gabriel
Alhambra Hospital Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 4.8 mi away · Alhambra
Usc Verdugo Hills Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.1 mi away · Glendale
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education22.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Pasadena
Pasadena's student/teacher ratio is 22.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 56.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
22
within city limits
Private Schools
25
within city limits
College Degree Rate
56.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Pasadena
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 22,688 students · in-state tuition $1,400 · 35% graduate
Public · 2-year · 21,466 students · in-state tuition $1,180 · 33% graduate · median earnings $47,494 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,017 students · in-state tuition $56,308 · 79% graduate · median earnings $75,975 (10 yrs after entry)
California Institute of Technology
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 987 students · in-state tuition $68,208 · 95% graduate · median earnings $166,642 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 312 students · in-state tuition $15,180 · 60% graduate · median earnings $53,848 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 227 students · in-state tuition $30,540 · 55% graduate · median earnings $44,742 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
University of Southern California
12.7 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 20,443 students · in-state tuition $75,162 · 93% graduate · median earnings $103,420 (10 yrs after entry)
California State University-Los Angeles
6.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 19,562 students · in-state tuition $7,530 · 69% graduate · median earnings $62,555 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 11,198 students · in-state tuition $1,238 · 20% graduate · median earnings $42,194 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,509 students · in-state tuition $1,195 · 28% graduate · median earnings $46,476 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 5,472 students · 43% graduate · median earnings $37,849 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,759 students · in-state tuition $45,340 · 71% graduate · median earnings $71,595 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, 36 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Pasadena
Pasadena has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (36 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
36 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
56 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
78 mi awayPublic Libraries in Pasadena
Pasadena Central Library
285 E. Walnut St., Pasadena
Allendale Branch Library
1130 S. Marengo Ave., Pasadena
Hastings Branch Library
3325 E. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena
Hill Ave. Branch Library
55 S. Hill Ave., Pasadena
La Pintoresca Branch Library
1355 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena
Lamanda Park Branch Library
140 S. Altadena Dr., Pasadena
Linda Vista Branch Library
1281 Bryant St., Pasadena
San Rafael Branch Library
1240 Nithsdale, Pasadena
Santa Catalina Branch Library
999 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena
Villa Parke Community Center Library
363 E. Villa, Pasadena
Cities Near Pasadena
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Pasadena?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Pasadena FAQ
Is Pasadena, California affordable?⌄
Pasadena's median rent is $2,265/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $105,192/year. Median home value is $1,093,300.
Is Pasadena, California safe?⌄
Pasadena's violent crime rate was 419 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2358 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Pasadena, California?⌄
Pasadena has an unemployment rate of 5.4%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Pasadena, California?⌄
The cost of living in Pasadena is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,265/month and median household income is $105,192/year. The median home value is $1,093,300. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Pasadena, California?⌄
The average commute in Pasadena is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from