Situated at the base of and surrounded by the San Gabriel Mountains, pretty, palatial Pasadena is named after the Ojibwa word, which means “valley.” One of the oldest cities in the state, Pasadena has a rich history, transitioning from a Spanish Mission into an urban oasis teeming with historic architecture and lush landscapes bathed in Southern California sunshine. It’s a family-friendly city with solid schools and manageable crime rates, but the population is shrinking, declining at least 1% annually since 2018. “Pasadena hits on the same level as a city like LA because of our events and amenities, but we don’t have the same issues and baggage,” says city Councilmember Tyron Hampton, a fifth-generation resident. Pasadena isn’t just a bedroom community to Los Angeles, which is just 10 miles south; it’s a destination itself, with premier shopping and dining destinations, an excellent park system and hot cultural spots like museums and botanical gardens. “We’ve got events, live theater, art galleries and some of the best hiking in the county,” says Pasadena Chamber of Commerce CEO Paul Little.
The San Gabriel Mountains give Upper Hastings Ranch a mountain town vibe with city living.
City Hall in Pasadena boasts some of the most impressive architecture in the area.
The Rosebowl Flea Market is the largest in the country and is 5 minutes from La Pintoresca Park.
Muir Heights is a small and safe neighborhood nestled in West Pasadena.
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"The Granddaddy of Them All" among annual events
Pasadena brings people together with a robust calendar of annual and one-off events that occur seasonally. Every year begins the same way on New Year's Day with the Tournament of Roses parade and college football game. Known as "The Granddaddy of Them All," the first Rose Bowl occurred in 1902. The 2024 Rose Parade saw an estimated 700,000 spectators, and almost 85,000 fans were in attendance at the game. "Some locals live for this event, but the family and I try to get out of town because the city becomes almost impossible to navigate. A drive that would take five minutes could end up being 45 minutes," Hampton says. "But the Rose Parade buildup is a different story. We all volunteer to work on the floats, which are all organic, and it's this really great community event." Later in January, Pasadena Cheeseburger Week honors the invention of the cheeseburger — the first ever was served at a long-gone stand called Rite Spot in 1924. "We're nationally recognized as the birthplace of the cheeseburger," Little says. ArtNight is held twice a year in the spring and fall, allowing residents and visitors to tour local galleries, museums and cultural venues free of charge. The summertime brings the POPS Summer Concert Series, the Pasadena Chalk Festival and the Colorado Bridge Party.
Jazz Performances in parks and local stages happen weekly in Playhouse Village.
Pasadena's Chalk Festival is a free festival to watch artists create beautiful sidewalk art.
The Rose Bowl is a quick walk from Old Town Pasadena.
San Rafael Flats residents can head to Eagle Rock for some live music.
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Vintage character homes in Bungalow Heaven and Oak Knoll
Housing prices are high by any standard in the city. In 2024, the national median home price was around $400,000, compared to around $1.2 million in Pasadena and just over $1 million in Los Angeles. It's expensive to get in, but it's an excellent investment as home values continue to climb — prices were up over 4% for the year in August 2024. Every Pasadena neighborhood offers something distinct. Bungalow Heaven is a historic area of over 800 small Craftsman homes built between 1900 and 1930. "I live in a beautiful Craftsman bungalow from 1912 and one of my favorite places in the city to walk is my very own neighborhood. It's beautiful and eclectic," Little says. "I've been here close to 40 years, and I'm not planning on moving anytime soon." A high-end neighborhood with showcase architecture, Oak Knoll stands out in a city with some stellar suburban communities. A broad mix of early-to-mid-20th century character homes are represented on the tree-lined streets. There are vintage condos and modern townhomes in Playhouse Village, a buzzy neighborhood in the heart of Pasadena and the city's cultural centerpiece.
Large three story homes can be found higher in the hills of West San Rafael Hills.
There is a wide variety of home styles throughout San Rafael Flats.
Older Spanish style homes from 1920's and 30's are native to San Rafael Hills in Pasadena, CA.
Craftsman homes are in abundance in the neighborhood of Orange Hills.
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High-performing public schools and home of CalTech
Families with school-aged children are served by Pasadena Unified, an above-average public school district graded B-plus by Niche, or South Pasadena Unified, graded A-plus. Among the best school districts in California, South Pasadena Unified receives high marks from Niche in teachers and college prep. “At John Muir High School, students can earn credits through Pasadena City College, which is one of the best junior colleges in the area, and graduate high school with an associate’s degree,” Hampton says. Many private education options in Pasadena are sought after for their academic and extracurricular programs, including the top-ranked Westridge School, La Salle College Preparatory, and the Sequoyah School.
California Institute of Technology is based in Pasadena. “This is one of the hardest schools in the world to get into and on par with MIT,” Hampton says. A famously rigorous institution, CalTech’s alumni include leading physicians, engineers and Nobel Prize winners. “They’ve had almost 50 Nobel laureates. They run the NASA jet propulsion laboratory. And they’re one of the biggest employers in the city,” Little says.
Kids can attend McKinley School a local elementary school for its residents.
John Muir High is an early college magnet near Linda Vista, CA.
San Pasqual is only blocks from the California Institute of Technology’s campus.
Pasadena City College is also just a few blocks away and is a great place to stroll.
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Arroyo Seco has 22 miles of trails and is the site of the Rose Bowl
Surrounded by mountains and rich in natural beauty, Pasadena has over 24 parks promising stunning views, scenic walkways, sports facilities and many playgrounds. Memorial Park has a bandshell and a large grassy area, and Brookside Park has amphitheater seating and a lighted walkway. Arroyo Seco is one of Pasadena's most defining features. "This is the highlight of our impressive park system. It's right in the shadow of the Rose Bowl, which is iconic to the city," Little says. The multiterrain area has 22 miles of trails connecting the Angeles National Forest with south Pasadena. There are abundant activities offered at the Arroyo, from fly-fishing at the casting pond to playing a round of Frisbee golf at the world's first Frisbee golf course. One of the most popular spots in Pasadena, the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens is one of the city's standout attractions. The gardens are the highlight — more than a dozen themed gardens are spread over 130 acres.
Practice your putting on the putting green at Brookside Golf Course.
A local favorite of Cal Tech, The Huntington Library in Pasadena, Ca.
Check out Arlington Garden a local hotspot for walks and a chance to be surrounded by nature.
There are a number of trails to explore around Lower Arroyo Park.
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Food-tasting walking tours in Old Pasadena
A historic business district with an old-time town square charm, Old Pasadena is the city's restaurant and retail hub, home to over 200 businesses. "Our downtown has a vibrant and eclectic restaurant scene and plenty of shopping," Little says. Old meets new in this always buzzing shopping center that is a destination for visitors and residents alike. "Old Town is a big draw in the San Gabriel Valley because there isn't as much to do in the surrounding cities, so people come here," Hampton says. "But it's still somewhere that I go to shop, and my children go there; it's a great place for everyone." Events are always happening in Old Town, like weekly food-tasting walking tours and the Haunted Pasadena Walking Tour from late September through Halloween. Pasadena has many commercial stretches and retail centers — from big-box stores and national chain dining to independent eateries and boutique shopping. "You have family-owned restaurants and business owners that have been there 20, 30, 40 years and have been staples in the community for decades," Hampton says. "They are part of the community, and as members of the community, we are sure to go out and support them."
Full Circle Thrift near La Pintoresca Park is a two story thrift store popular with the locals.
Head to Downtown Pasadena from Kinneloa Mesa for plenty of shopping options.
Southeast Pasadena offers cozy places for meeting with friends.
Settebello Pizzeria and restaurant Near Playhouse Village serves up great dishes for residents.
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Alternatives to driving
Residents of Pasadena enjoy easy highway access, with Interstate 210 running through the heart of the city. Many neighborhoods along the freeway deal with traffic noise, but much of it is walled off, and it often sits at a different elevation than the homes, providing a natural sound barrier. The Arroyo Seco Parkway, also known as state Route 110, connects to Los Angeles about 10 miles south for a drive that can take upward of 45 minutes during unpredictable rush hours. “It can take a while to get to LA, but then it can be 15 to 20 minutes sometimes,” Little says. Though most people rely on cars to get around, Pasadena Transit operates bus routes on many major thoroughfares, and the LA Metro’s A Line has six stops in the city. Pasadena is working to make the city more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly — adding bike lanes and sidewalks is a designated line item on the annual budget. The nearest large airport for domestic travel is Hollywood Burbank, about 15 miles northwest of the city. Los Angeles International is about 30 miles south. "You can get on a flight to anywhere in the world at LAX," Little says. Huntington Memorial Hospital, just south of Old Pasadena, is one of the city's primary medical facilities.
Property crime and fire risk
Though it was lower before 2020, violent crime numbers in Pasadena have risen steadily since the pandemic and are now more in line with state and national numbers than they once were. Since mid-2022, Pasadena has averaged nearly 100 violent crimes per 100,000 people each month, compared to about 110 nationally. Property crime is on par with California's numbers but is still well above national numbers. Since August 2023, Pasadena Police reported upward of 200 property crimes per 100,000 people each month, compared to about 150 nationally.
The city has a Mediterranean climate characterized by hot, arid summers and cooler but not cold winters. There is little precipitation in the summer but an average of four inches of rain in February. Pasadena is surrounded by the San Gabriel Mountains and has a lot of natural areas, which creates a severe fire risk for residents in many neighborhoods to the north and west of the city. “The risk of fire is always going to be there when you live next to a nature reserve, but we have the top mitigation certification that you can have in California, and our fire department is amazing,” Hampton says. The city organizes regular brush clearing and takes caution by using fire retardants before any fireworks event at the Rose Bowl. “We also do quarterly checks around high-fire zones. Every three months, we’ve got people out there looking, and if we don’t have people on-site, we have drones out there looking for risk,” Hampton says.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
