Pasadena CA
California · Pop. 136,969
Pasadena, CA: median household income of $105,192, median rent of $2,265/mo, 5.7% unemployment. Our verdict: Needs Work.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$105,192
per year
Median Rent
$2,265
per month
Median Home
$1,093k
home value
Unemployment
5.7%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
13.3%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
27 min
one way
City Reality Check honest
"Pasadena, CA Reality Check"
In Pasadena, the rent-to-income burden runs around 26% — acceptable by national standards. Median income sits at $105,192 and median rent is $2,265/month. 50% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $1,093,300 — that's 10.4× the median income. 56% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — a highly educated workforce that drives (and inflates) this local economy. Employment picture: 5.65% unemployment — a average employment landscape. Poverty rate: 13.3%. Average commute: 27 minutes — acceptable. Pasadena was founded in 1886 — that's 140 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 23.1 sq miles at 5,922 people/sq mile — moderately dense. Elevation: 863 ft — modest elevation. Pasadena has 6 sister cities — cosmopolitan on paper, at least. RoastMyCity overall score: 51/100 — Needs Work.