Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Pasadena
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Pasadena
Rent control: Pasadenahas its own local rent-stabilization ordinance with protections beyond California's statewide cap (AB 1482). Check Pasadena's rent board for the rules that apply to a specific building before signing.
General information, not legal advice.
How Pasadena scores for you
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Pasadena is a city of about 150,000 in Los Angeles County, 10 miles northeast of downtown LA. It is the cultural and commercial hub of the San Gabriel Valley, home to the California Institute of Technology, the Huntington Library, and the Rose Bowl. Old Pasadena, the city's original downtown, anchors the area with independent shops, restaurants, and galleries along Colorado Boulevard.
The city blends residential neighborhoods with strong local institutions and parks. Most of Pasadena is car-dependent, though the pedestrian-friendly Old Pasadena district and pockets of the central city offer walkable errands. The tree canopy is below average for the region, leaving many streets open and exposed.
Living here
Day-to-day life in Pasadena centers on a mix of neighborhood living and trips to Old Pasadena or shopping corridors. You will need a car for most errands; public transit is minimal and not reliable for daily commuting. Traffic is above average compared to the region, so commute times can be unpredictable during peak hours. Within a short walk, you will find about 9 restaurants, 3 or 4 coffee spots, a grocery store, and parks and gyms, though these counts vary by neighborhood.
Many residents walk or bike for local tasks, but broader errands require driving. The city has good air quality relative to the state average, though diesel PM exposure is slightly below the California median. Summer heat and limited shade on many streets are common trade-offs of the open streetscape.
Who it's for
Pasadena suits renters who want a established city with cultural draws, strong schools, and a walkable historic downtown without committing to the density or transit dependence of central LA. It works well for families, professionals working locally or at Caltech, and anyone seeking a quieter base with easy freeway access to employment centers across the county. It is less ideal if you rely on public transit, prefer tree-lined residential streets, or want to minimize driving.
Environment & livability
Air quality: moderate diesel PM exposure for California.
Above the state median, linked to mild long-term respiratory risk in some studies. Worth considering for sensitive households.
Traffic exposure: above-average traffic corridor exposure.
Higher traffic proximity correlates with elevated noise, diesel emissions, and reduced pedestrian comfort on nearby streets.
Tree cover: limited tree cover, mostly open streetscape.
Less canopy means more heat exposure and less visual greenery on daily walks. LA County median is around 14% canopy coverage.
Walkability: walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
A mixed walkability area. Good for quick trips on foot, but some destinations will require driving or transit.
Transit: minimal transit access, car strongly recommended.
Very infrequent or no meaningful transit nearby. Car dependency is high in this area.
Environmental data from CalEnviroScreen 4.0 and the EPA Smart Location Database. Informational only, not professional advice for a housing decision.
Who lives in Pasadena
Population
134,941
Renters
57%
of households rent
Median age
41
Median income
$107k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Pasadena
21 public schools sit inside this area · 21 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aveson School of LeadersCharter Elementary | K-5 | 52% | 54% |
| Don Benito Fundamental Elementary | K-5 | 56% | 42% |
| Field (Eugene) Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 77% | 76% |
| Hamilton Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 61% | 58% |
| Longfellow (Henry W.) Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 47% | 39% |
| Madison Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 20% | 17% |
| McKinley Elementary | K-8 | 27% | 15% |
| Norma Coombs Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 49% | 37% |
| Pasadena Rosebud AcademyCharter Elementary | K-8 | 40% | 23% |
| San Rafael Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 51% | 45% |
| Twentieth Street Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 39% | 39% |
| Washington Elementary STEM Magnet Elementary | K-5 | 33% | 24% |
| Willard Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 54% | 40% |
| Octavia E. Butler Magnet Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 37% | 22% |
| John Muir High High School | 9-12 | 43% | 18% |
| Options For Youth - Duarte, IncCharter High School | 7-12 | 38% | 14% |
| Pasadena High High School | 9-12 | 56% | 26% |
| Rose City High (Continuation) High School | 10-12 | 15% | 10% |
| Blair High Elementary-High Combination | 6-12 | 43% | 27% |
| Learning WorksCharter Elementary-High Combination | 6-12 | 3% | 0% |
| Thurgood Marshall Secondary Elementary-High Combination | 6-12 | 52% | 37% |
Source: California Dept. of Education (directory) and CAASPP Smarter Balanced, 2025. We publish these figures as the state reports them and show the same table for every neighborhood. Saktoo does not rate schools, and school data is never part of a neighborhood match score. Attendance boundaries change — confirm the assigned school with the district before relying on it.
Around Pasadena
Albertsons · Baja Ranch Market · Erewhon · Food 4 Less
303 Cafe · A Little Tea · Alfred Coffee · Amara Café
@26 Viet Cafe · 167 Cafe · 5 Pot · Acai Bar
Allendale Park · Annandale Canyon Park · Bechtel Mall · Brenner Park
24 Hour Fitness · Barry's · Basecamp Fitness · Be Pilates
Check your commute from Pasadena
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Next to Pasadena
What the census says about Pasadena
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Pasadena; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 29 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 71%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1955
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 4%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 9%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 94%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 60%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 2 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 37,469
- total housing units
Averaged across 64 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Pasadena in the regional index
How Pasadena places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Tree cover, clean air, little traffic
Ranks #69 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Pasadena
Found a place you like? Score it against your priorities to see how well any address fits your budget and commute.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pasadena walkable?+
Pasadena is walkable for some errands, ranking 184th of 319 comparable areas in the region. Old Pasadena and parts of central Pasadena support walking; most residential neighborhoods require a car. You will find about 9 restaurants, 3-4 coffee shops, and a grocery store within a short walk of typical locations, but distances and connectivity vary widely by neighborhood.
Do I need a car?+
Yes. Pasadena has minimal public transit (no rail stations nearby) and ranks 202nd of 319 areas in transit access. A car is strongly recommended for commuting and most errands outside Old Pasadena.
What is the rent?+
Current residents pay a median rent of about $1,807 per month. Pasadena ranks 58th of 210 comparable areas by median rent, making it moderately priced relative to the region (the regional median is about $2,289).
What is the weather and environment like?+
Pasadena has good air quality but above-average traffic exposure. Tree cover is limited at about 14%, below the regional average of 8%, so many streets lack shade. Summers are warm; cooling costs may be higher due to open streetscape and limited canopy.
What is the average rent in Pasadena?+
Current residents of Pasadena pay a median rent of about $2,341 per month (Census ACS). Asking rents for new leases typically run higher.
How is the air quality in Pasadena?+
Pasadena has moderate diesel PM exposure for California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 62 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Pasadena?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Pasadena are Studio City, UCI Area, La Verne and Encino.