East Los Angeles vs Pasadena
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $643,100 in East Los Angeles and $1,093,300 in Pasadena.
- Households earn more in Pasadena ($105,192 vs $68,741 median).
- Pasadena has more scorching days: 74 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 26.
- East Los Angeles is growing faster: +0% since 2020 vs -2.7%.
- Commutes are shorter in Pasadena (27 vs 30 minutes each way).
Side by side
| East Los Angeles, CA | Pasadena, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 111,647 | 135,804 |
| Growth since 2020 | n/a | -2.7% |
| People per square mile | 14,980 | 5,915 |
| Median age | 34.7 | 40.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11% | 56% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $68,741 | $105,192 |
| Median home value | $643,100 | $1,093,300 |
| Home value to income | 9.4× | 10.4× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,494 | $2,265 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 113.6 | 113.6 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 170.4 | 170.4 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $85,200 | $85,200 |
| Homeowners | 34% | 43% |
| Top state income tax | 13.3% | 13.3% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.03% | 9.03% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 30.2 | 26.9 |
| Work from home | 9% | 28% |
| Take public transit | 6% | 4% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 6.8% | 5.6% |
| Poverty rate | 17.3% | 13.3% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 68° / 49° | 68° / 46° |
| July high / low | 82° / 65° | 89° / 62° |
| Precipitation per year | 14 in | 20 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 26 | 74 |
| Nights below freezing | 0 | 0 |
| Comfortable months | 12 | 7 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Very High | Very High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 11% | 11% |
| Home prices, past year | +1.2% | +1.2% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +31.9% | +31.9% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: East Los Angeles: January to December. Pasadena: March to June and October to December.
Full monthly tables: East Los Angeles weather by month and Pasadena weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $85,200 in East Los Angeles and $85,200 in Pasadena. Moving from East Los Angeles to Pasadena, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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