Pasadena vs Glendale
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $1,093,300 in Pasadena and $1,102,300 in Glendale.
- Households earn more in Pasadena ($105,192 vs $88,393 median).
- Pasadena has more scorching days: 74 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 26.
- Pasadena is growing faster: -2.7% since 2020 vs -4.8%.
Side by side
| Pasadena, CA | Glendale, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 135,804 | 187,160 |
| Growth since 2020 | -2.7% | -4.8% |
| People per square mile | 5,915 | 6,141 |
| Median age | 40.1 | 41.4 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 56% | 47% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $105,192 | $88,393 |
| Median home value | $1,093,300 | $1,102,300 |
| Home value to income | 10.4× | 12.5× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $2,265 | $2,182 |
| 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 | 43% | 35% |
| Top state income tax | 13.3% | 13.3% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.03% | 9.03% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 26.9 | 27.1 |
| Work from home | 28% | 21% |
| Take public transit | 4% | 2% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.6% | 8.3% |
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | 12.9% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 68° / 46° | 68° / 49° |
| July high / low | 89° / 62° | 82° / 65° |
| Precipitation per year | 20 in | 14 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 74 | 26 |
| Nights below freezing | 0 | 0 |
| Comfortable months | 7 | 12 |
| 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: Pasadena: March to June and October to December. Glendale: January to December.
Full monthly tables: Pasadena weather by month and Glendale 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 Pasadena and $85,200 in Glendale. Moving from Pasadena to Glendale, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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