Living in Pasadena, TX
Pasadena is the 186th-largest city in the US, home to about 149,000 people in 2025. It has lost 2.2% of its population since 2020. Prices across the metro area run close to the national average (98.6 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 148,539-2.2% since 2020
- Median home value
- $209,6003.2 years of median income
- Median rent
- $1,213/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $64,927median, per year
- Price level
- 98.6US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 64° / 93°lows 46° / 77°
- Average commute
- 27 min8% work from home
- State income tax
- Noneon wages
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County: Harris County
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Elevation: about 30 ft
Metro area: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Cost of living in Pasadena
The median home in Pasadena is worth $209,600 and the median household earns $64,927 a year, so a typical home costs about 3.2 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,213 a month, about 22% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area at 98.6, with housing at 104.5 and goods at 100.6 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $74,000 here. Texas has no state income tax on wages. The average combined state and local sales tax in Texas is 8.2%.
What would my salary be worth in Pasadena?
Pasadena weather
Average highs run from 64°F in January to 93°F in July, and January nights average 46°F. It gets 56 inches of rain and melted snow a year, with almost no snow. Expect about 100 days a year at 90°F or hotter. The most comfortable months are November to April.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Pasadena
People and work
The median resident is 33.0 years old, and 16% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 54% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 27 minutes; 8% of workers work from home.
- Median age
- 33.085th youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 16%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 55%of households
- People per sq mile
- 3,40043.7 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 0%1% walk, 0.1% bike
- Unemployment
- 8.6%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 18.9%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1977median year
Who moves to Pasadena, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Austin (Travis County), Dallas (Dallas County) and San Antonio (Bexar County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Austin (Travis County), Dallas (Dallas County) and San Antonio (Bexar County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Very High
FEMA rating for Harris County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: hurricane, tornado, inland flooding, heat wave.
Home prices
+3.4% in a year
Up 33% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
10% good days
46 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX area (365 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Pasadena
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Daikin Park 13 miles
- University of Houston 12 miles
- Houston City College 14 miles
- Rice University 15 miles
- San Jacinto Community College 3 miles
- University of Houston-Downtown 14 miles
- Texas Southern University 13 miles
- University of Houston-Clear Lake 8 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Pasadena
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| William P. Hobby Airport HOU | 7 mi | 7,116,967 |
| George Bush Intercontinental Airport IAH | 24 mi | 23,349,157 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Pasadena
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston City College | 14 mi | 40,503 | $4,575 | n/a |
| University of Houston | 12 mi | 38,380 | $11,439 | 66% |
| San Jacinto Community College | 3 mi | 22,969 | $1,807 | n/a |
| University of Houston-Downtown | 14 mi | 12,555 | $9,828 | 30% |
| Texas Southern University | 13 mi | 6,844 | $16,494 | 24% |
| University of Houston-Clear Lake | 8 mi | 6,078 | $11,852 | 45% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Pasadena
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before January 30, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around December 4 and the first frost comes around December 28.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Houston Hobby Airport, TX, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Pasadena.
Wildfire smoke in Pasadena
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Pasadena on about 169 days a year, including about 21 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Pasadena
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 49,560 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Pasadena
Downtown Pasadena is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasadena Independent School District | Pre-K to 12 | 46,491 | 67 | 13.1 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Houston Independent School District (176,727 students), Clear Creek Independent School District (39,684 students), Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District (24,032 students), Galena Park Independent School District (20,862 students), Pearland Independent School District (20,862 students), Deer Park Independent School District (12,165 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Pasadena's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Pasadena's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Jacksonville, FL77% matchCompare
- Daytona Beach, FL75% matchCompare
- Gainesville, FL73% matchCompare
- Metairie, LA73% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near Pasadena
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Pros and cons of living in Pasadena
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data Homes are affordable for locals: the median home costs 3.2 years of median household income, lower than in three quarters of the cities we cover.
- Data Texas has no state income tax on wages.
- Data Winters are warm, with January highs around 64°F.
Cons
- Data Summers are long and hot: about 100 days a year reach 90°F.
- Data High natural hazard risk in Harris County (FEMA rates it very high), led by hurricane, tornado and inland flooding.
- Data Air quality is a concern: 46 days in 2025 were unhealthy at least for sensitive groups (EPA).
Pasadena report card from locals
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Pasadena through locals' eyes
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Cities near Pasadena
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearland, TX | 12 mi | 129,930 | $356,300 | 98.6 | Compare |
| League City, TX | 13 mi | 119,905 | $360,000 | 98.6 | Compare |
| Baytown, TX | 13 mi | 86,561 | $197,300 | 98.6 | Compare |
| Houston, TX | 20 mi | 2,397,315 | $277,800 | 98.6 | Compare |
| Missouri City, TX | 22 mi | 77,327 | $311,400 | 98.6 | Compare |
| Sugar Land, TX | 29 mi | 107,726 | $430,200 | 98.6 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Pasadena ranks 38th of 47 in our best suburbs of Houston ranking.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Pasadena with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Pasadena a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show homes that cost under four years of median income, no state income tax on wages, 6 comfortable months a year; the trade-offs are 100 days a year at 90°F or hotter, a shrinking population. Compare Pasadena side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Pasadena?
The Census Bureau estimates Pasadena had 148,539 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 151,938 in April 2020 (-2.2%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Pasadena?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $74,000 in the Pasadena area. The median household here earns $64,927.
When is the best time to visit Pasadena?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, November to April are the most comfortable months. July averages 93°F and January 64°F for daytime highs.
What county is Pasadena in?
Pasadena is in Harris County, Texas. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Pasadena in?
Pasadena is on Central Time (UTC-6, or UTC-5 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Pasadena?
About 30 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does Texas have a state income tax?
No. Texas does not tax wage income.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Pasadena. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Houston Hobby Airport, TX station; snowfall from Houston-Port, TX. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.