Pasadena, CA, known as 'The Crown City,' offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern urban amenities. Located in Los Angeles County, Pasadena is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Los Angeles (10 miles) and Glendale (8 miles) enhance its status as a central point in the region. Pasadena's blend of historic landmarks, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Pasadena is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Rose Bowl Stadium, the historic Pasadena Playhouse, and the scenic Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Descanso Gardens to the bustling Old Pasadena, known for its shopping and dining. Pasadena's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Californian cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Pasadena Chalk Festival highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Pasadena's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like the California Institute of Technology contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Pasadena is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Norton Simon Museum and the Pasadena Museum of California Art are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Pasadena provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Pasadena’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB) and the Los Angeles Rams (NFL), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Pasadena include healthcare, education, and technology, with significant employers such as Huntington Hospital and Jet Propulsion Laboratory driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and light rail, making commuting convenient for residents. Pasadena enjoys a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters, perfect for enjoying outdoor activities year-round.
Amenities
A wealth of amenities, such as restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, parks and fitness facilities, are all conveniently located within walking distance.
Commute
An elevated score in the commute category points to excellent public transit accessibility and shorter-than-average work commute times in this area.
Employment
Higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates are seen in this area. The result is a high score in the employment category.
Ratings
Based on recent surveys and polls, locals gave high marks in the walkability to local amenities, safety, public transit, friendliness of neighbors and overall sense of community in the area.
Cost Of Living
Living in this region comes with a high cost of living, translating to elevated costs for homes, goods and services, groceries, utilities, health care and transportation.
Crime
This area reports elevated crime rates per 100,000 individuals, potentially pointing some areas being unsafe for its residents. Stats are based on both property and violent crimes.
Pasadena is a medium-sized city located in the state of California. The city has a population of 146,628 people. In Pasadena, there are 6,380 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. More than a quarter of the residents of Pasadena identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino, and 27% of the population speak Spanish as their primary or secondary language. Pasadena is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 49% married, this city falls well below the national average. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Pasadena, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 29 minutes.
Whether you’re moving to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Pasadena could be a positive experience compared to other cities in California if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. With useful information like amenities, cost of living, commute, employment and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Pasadena and in the areas around Pasadena is a much easier task.
Pasadena has a livability score of 73 out of 100 and is ranked #150 in California and #4,552 in the USA. For each of the livability categories, we can establish that Pasadena ranks very well for amenities (A+) and employment (A+). Pasadena does not rank well for the following: cost of living (F). It might be a good idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
If you're living in Pasadena, you can expect to enjoy a multitude of local amenities, mostly thanks to the strategic placement of essential services such as grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks and various shops. If you're contemplating a move to this locale with the intent of establishing it as your permanent residence, you'll be pleased to find an extensive array of amenities and recreational opportunities within easy reach, either on foot or via a brief commute. This wealth of accessible amenities not only enhances the livability of the area but also ensures that you can enjoy a rich and fulfilling lifestyle, making Pasadena an attractive destination for those seeking a vibrant and well-served community to call home. Here are some of the more popular things to do in Pasadena: Norton Simon Museum, Old Pasadena, and Rose Bowl Stadium.
Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Pasadena is real estate affordability. The median home price for Pasadena homes is $1,502,530, which is 105.4% higher than the California average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Pasadena, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 11.9, which is 54.5% higher than the California average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Pasadena | California | National |
| Average one way commute | 29min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 65.9% | 73.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 6.3% | 10.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 5.9% | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 5.2% | 2.7% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 12.4% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
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