Pasadena, CA Local Data & Statistics

State: CA

Total population: 136,969 Household income: $105,192 Rent: $2,265

Overview

Total population

136,969

Rent

$2,265

Year built

1961

Household income

$105,192

Per capita income

$65,304

Poverty rate

13.3%

Unemployment rate

5.4%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

49.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

California

Total population

136,969

Adults over 25

104,108

Total households

57,425

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$105,192

Per capita income

$65,304

Poverty rate

13.3%

Unemployment rate

5.4%

Rent over 30% of income

49.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$2,265

Year built

1961

Households that rent

57.5%

Households that own

42.5%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.3

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

39.2%

Black

8.3%

Asian

17.4%

Two or more races

16.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

34%

Not Hispanic or Latino

66%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

72.4%

Commute time to work

27 mins

Work from home

27.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

23.5%

High school graduate or GED

12.8%

Some college or associate degree

7.6%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

56.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Pasadena, CA with: California United States

Pasadena, CA

Total population136,969

Rent$2,265

Year built1961

Household income$105,192

Per capita income$65,304

Poverty rate13.3%

Unemployment rate5.4%

California State

Total population39,287,377

Rent$2,036

Year built1976

Household income$99,122

Per capita income$49,513

Poverty rate12%

Unemployment rate5.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityPasadena, CA	StateCalifornia	CountryUnited States
Total population	136,969	39,287,377	334,922,499
Rent	$2,265	$2,036	$1,413
Year built	1961	1976	1980
Household income	$105,192	$99,122	$80,734
Per capita income	$65,304	$49,513	$44,673
Poverty rate	13.3%	12%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	5.4%	5.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Pasadena, CA, California and United States →

Summary for Pasadena, CA

Pasadena is located in California.

Rent & Income

In Pasadena, the typical monthly rent is $2,265 and the typical household income is $105,192. Rent here is higher than in both California and the U.S., and household income is also higher than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 13.3%, which is higher than in both California and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 57.5% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 49.8% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 56.1% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 5.4%, which is similar to California and higher than the national rate.

Pasadena, CA — Rent vs Household Income

Pasadena, CA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Pasadena, CA compares in California (180 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$2,265	111 / 180	from lower rent	$1,148 – $3,501
Household income	$105,192	80 / 180	from higher income	$57,719 – $234,707
Poverty rate	13.3%	132 / 180	from lower poverty	4.1% – 26.5%
Unemployment rate	5.4%	132 / 180	from lower unemployment	2.9% – 18.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in California with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Pasadena, CA

Rent

When it comes to rent costs, Pasadena places 111th among 180 large places in California. Across the state, rents run from $1,148 in Porterville, CA up to $3,501 in Cupertino, CA.

Household income

For median household income, Pasadena is ranked 80th out of 180 large areas. Statewide incomes span from $57,719 in Hemet, CA to $234,707 in Cupertino, CA.

Poverty rate

Poverty levels put Pasadena in 132nd place among 180 significant areas. Across California, poverty ranges between 4.1% and 26.5%.

Unemployment rate

For joblessness, Pasadena ranks 132nd out of 180 significant areas. Across California, unemployment varies from 2.9% in Santa Barbara, CA to 18.2% in Delano, CA.

💰 Rent in Pasadena, CA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $2,265 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Pasadena, CA

Annual Household Income: $105,192

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Pasadena, CA

Estimated Rate: 13.3%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Pasadena, CA

In Pasadena, CA, households that rent: 33,016 (57.5%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	33,016	57.5%
Owner-Occupied	24,409	42.5%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Pasadena, CA

In Pasadena, CA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 16,432 (49.8%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	16,432	49.8%
Other renter households	16,584	50.2%
Total renter households	33,016	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Pasadena, CA

Less than High School: 24,498 people (23.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 13,351 people (12.8%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 7,869 people (7.6%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 58,390 people (56.1%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 104,108

📊 Unemployment Rate in Pasadena, CA

Estimated Rate: 5.4%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Cedar Rapids, IA136,859 Dayton, OH136,741 Hampton, VA137,334 Miramar, FL135,986 Victorville, CA135,983 West Valley City, UT137,955 Columbia, SC138,019 Elizabeth, NJ135,887 Warren, MI138,128 Stamford, CT135,806

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.