City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

South Pasadena, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for South Pasadena - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

26,297
Residents
$128,105
Median income
$1,545,100
Median home
$2,601
Median rent (state)

South Pasadena - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, South Pasadena places in the 90th percentile for household income and the 19th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

90th
percentile, household income
99th
percentile, home value
93rd
percentile, median rent
19th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: South Pasadena, CA

California's South Pasadena is a small city, with 26,297 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $128,105 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.1%. Typical homes in South Pasadena are valued around $1,545,100, and the median resident age is 40.3 years. 72.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 68.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 51 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 538% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 2723.2 incidents per 100,000 residents, near the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

California carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, California scores 110.7 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,601 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 100.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

26,297 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$128,105 /yr

Poverty 4.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does South Pasadena compare to other US cities?

South Pasadena measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 90% higher than other cities
Home value 99% pricier than other cities
Median rent 93% pricier than other cities
Safety 19% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just California and the picture shifts: South Pasadena ranks #340 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares South Pasadena against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is South Pasadena's strongest outlier among California cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, South Pasadena ranks #78 - the 94th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares South Pasadena only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#272 of 1,338
80th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#513 of 1,458
56th percentile in California
Median Home Value
#101 of 1,343
92nd percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#936 of 1,450
35th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#78 of 1,458
94th percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

90thIncome percentile
19thSafety percentile

90th percentile nationally for median household income · 19th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

South Pasadena's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

South Pasadena's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 38 Avg. percentile National median
South Pasadena's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How South Pasadena's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$1,545,100 1st percentile more affordable than 1% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. South Pasadena $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - South Pasadena, CA South Pasadena, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not South Pasadena, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution South Pasadena, CA median $128,105/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
South Pasadena, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for South Pasadena, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 72.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 68.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
26,297
Median Income
$128,105
Median Home Value
$1,545,100
Median Age
40.3
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Labor force participation
68.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
72.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2723.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
210.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2513.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
25,000 residents25,500 residents26,000 residents26,500 residents27,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 26,843 residents 25,503 residents ▼ -5.0%
South Pasadena's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
51
housing units authorized
Single-Family
51
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 8
2020 13
2021 17
2022 34
2023 44
2024 51

Permit volume increased 538% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
61.1%
Carpool
4.5%
Public Transit
3.5%
Walk
1.3%
Work from Home
26.2%
Other
3.4%

Based on 14,242 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county South Pasadena sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,601/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
100.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Eureka
26,302 people
Hercules
26,245 people
Wasco
26,222 people
Windsor
26,179 people
Sanger
26,515 people
North Tustin
26,038 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to South Pasadena's 26,297 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Leland, NC
26,307 people
Woodstock, IL
26,316 people
South Salt Lake, UT
26,277 people
Holbrook, NY
26,256 people
Plainview, NY
26,251 people
Elmira, NY
26,349 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to South Pasadena's $128,105 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

South Windham, ME
$128,108 median income
Waxhaw, NC
$128,115 median income
Durhamville, NY
$128,125 median income
Fishers, IN
$128,141 median income
Turner Colony, MT
$128,056 median income
Centennial, CO
$128,167 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - South Pasadena, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition South Pasadena, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 41.0% 32.9% 7.4% 14.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 20.6% White 41.0% Black or African American 3.5% Asian 32.9% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 7.4% Two or more races 14.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How South Pasadena compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
South Pasadena (this city) 26,297 $128,105
Eureka 26,302 $60,253
Hercules 26,245 $130,583
Wasco 26,222 $55,521
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about South Pasadena, CA?

What is the population of South Pasadena, CA? +

The population of South Pasadena, CA stands at 26,297 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in South Pasadena, CA? +

In South Pasadena, the typical household earns $128,105 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in South Pasadena? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for South Pasadena; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is South Pasadena, CA safe? +

South Pasadena has a total crime rate of 2723.2 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in South Pasadena, CA? +

South Pasadena's median home value sits at $1,545,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.