Pasadena 66 Good
Pasadena Livability #614 ranked city in Texas#11,557 ranked city in the USARanks better than 60% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
  • Uncover the key details before you move
  • Use local data to guide a smarter investment
  • Compare neighborhoods side by side
Local Insights Report

Pasadena, TX - The Strawberry Capital of the World

Pasadena, TX, known as 'The Strawberry Capital of the World,' offers a unique blend of suburban tranquility and modern urban amenities. Located in Harris County, Pasadena is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Houston (14 miles) and Baytown (22 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 Armand Bayou Nature Center, the historic San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, and the scenic Strawberry Park. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Pasadena Historical Museum to the bustling Pasadena Town Square, known for its shopping and dining. Pasadena's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Tex-Mex cuisine to international dishes.

Annual events such as the Pasadena Strawberry Festival and the Pasadena Livestock Show & Rodeo 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 San Jacinto College 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 Pasadena Little Theatre and the Art Park Players 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 Houston Astros (MLB) and the Houston Texans (NFL), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Pasadena include petrochemicals, healthcare, and education, with significant employers such as BASF and Pasadena Independent School District driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and light rail, making commuting convenient.

Pros and Cons of Living in Pasadena

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.

  • Crime 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.

What's it like Living in Pasadena?

Located in the state of Texas, Pasadena is a moderately-sized city with a population of 157,942 residents. In Pasadena, there are 3,621 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. The majority of Pasadena residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Black and Asian. Additionally, more than a quarter of the population of Pasadena are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 44% of the population also speak Spanish. Pasadena could be a great place for young adults and students as the average age of 31 years old is below the nation’s average. Long commute times to work can be incredibly frustrating, ranking just behind housework on the list of life's annoyances. If you opt to make Pasadena your home, your one-way commute time will typically last around 26 minutes, a duration that aligns with the national average commute time of 26 minutes.

Living in Pasadena can be a good experience for anyone relocating to the town. Having said that, in the state of Texas, there are many incredible places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like cost of living, education, employment, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Pasadena and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Pasadena to Texas and the national average.

The livability score in Pasadena is 66/100 and the city is ranked in the 63rd percentile of all cities across America. For each of the livability categories, we can establish that Pasadena ranks very well for housing (A+). There is at least one category that you should be aware of in Pasadena. The following was graded with a discouraging score: amenities (F) and crime (F).

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Pasadena excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

Assuming that Pasadena meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Pasadena. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Pasadena are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Pasadena come in at $242,975, which is 5.4% lower than the Texas average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Pasadena, the home price to income ratio is 2.9, which is 9.4% lower than the Texas average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Pasadena

See all the best places to live around Pasadena

How Do You Rate The Livability In Pasadena?

1. Select a livability score between 1-100
0
Awful
25
Poor
50
Average
75
Good
100
Great
2. Select any tags that apply to this area
View results

Compare Pasadena, TX Livability

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      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.

      Local Insights Report

      Pasadena transportation information

      Statistic Pasadena Texas National
      Average one way commute26min26min26min
      Workers who drive to work78.9%80.3%76.4%
      Workers who carpool11.4%10.6%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.3%1.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.5%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.6%1.6%2.8%
      Working from home6.7%4.3%4.6%
      Source: The Pasadena, TX data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.