© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
South Pasadena.
About
Life in South Pasadena
If you're considering South Pasadena, understand that you're looking at a affluent, education-focused community with a median home price around $1.5 million and median rent over $2,200—this is not an affordable area, but the median household income of $128,105 suggests most residents here are well-established professionals. The college degree rate of 72.7% is notably high, and the school district is a serious draw for families; the local elementary, middle, and high schools serve the community directly. You'll get a genuine small-town feel with locally-owned businesses, farmers markets, and the kind of walkable downtown that's rare this close to LA, though you should expect a 30-minute average commute if you're working elsewhere in the county.
South Pasadena at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.9%
Foreign-Born
25.5%
Broadband Internet
96.7%
of households
Population Growth
-5.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics25.5% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in South Pasadena: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In South Pasadena, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (24.3%), and 14.7% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
24.3%
of residents
65 and Older
13.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.6%
of households
Married Couples
50.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.54
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 12% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in South Pasadena
In South Pasadena, rent runs 12% above the CA average, and home values are 123% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$9,937
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
44.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1953
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,676,432 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in South Pasadena and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in South 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 South 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
Commute29.9 min avg
How South Pasadena residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In South Pasadena, most residents drive alone to work (59%), and 53% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR)
Medium hub3.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 19 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 13% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in South Pasadena runs 13% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
287.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,959
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
South 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 South 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.
173 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
South Pasadena is less than 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 South 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
South Pasadena is less than 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
South 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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in South Pasadena
Uninsured
2.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside South Pasadena's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Alhambra Hospital Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 1.6 mi away · Alhambra
Huntington Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.8 mi away · Pasadena
San Gabriel Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3 mi away · San Gabriel
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.
Education24.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in South Pasadena
South Pasadena's student/teacher ratio is 24.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 73.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
73.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
24.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near South Pasadena (within 15 miles)
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)
University of Southern California
9.5 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
3.1 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)
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, 35 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for South Pasadena
South Pasadena has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (35 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
35 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
56 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
81 mi awayPublic Libraries in South Pasadena
South Pasadena Public Library
1100 Oxley St., South Pasadena
Cities Near South Pasadena
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to South Pasadena?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
South Pasadena FAQ
Is South Pasadena, California affordable?⌄
South Pasadena's median rent is $2,284/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $127,175/year. Median home value is $1,640,000.
Is South Pasadena, California safe?⌄
South Pasadena's violent crime rate was 288 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1959 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in South Pasadena, California?⌄
South Pasadena has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in South Pasadena, California?⌄
The cost of living in South Pasadena is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,284/month and median household income is $127,175/year. The median home value is $1,640,000. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in South Pasadena, California?⌄
The average commute in South Pasadena is 30 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