The Town FilesSouth Pasadena, California
City in Los Angeles County · population 26,943 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,640,000
- Household income
- $127,175
- Jan low / Jul high
- 46° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 40.5
South Pasadena is a city of 26,943 people in Los Angeles County, California. The median home is worth $1,640,000, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks more walkable than 99% of California towns, hipper than 99% of California towns, better for young professionals than 98% of California towns.
How South Pasadena ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in South Pasadena is worth $1,640,000, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 12.9 times the median household income of $127,175, which is more affordable than 2% of California towns. Median rent is $2,284 a month. 44.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Pasadena | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,640,000 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $2,284 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $127,175 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 12.9× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 44.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in South Pasadena
| People | South Pasadena | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 73.5% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 3.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 25.5% | — |
| Work from home | 29.9% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.7% | 93.3% |
Weather in South Pasadena
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 45.5°F. About 20.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 0 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Pasadena since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on March 22, 2023 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 13, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on October 17, 2005.
Severe weather in Los Angeles County since 1996
Los Angeles County has been included in 88 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 8, 2025 | Fire | FM-5605: Canyon Fire |
| January 8, 2025 | Fire | DR-4856: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| January 8, 2025 | Fire | FM-5550: Eaton Fire |
| January 8, 2025 | Fire | FM-5551: Hurst Fire |
| January 7, 2025 | Fire | FM-5549: Palisades Fire |
Jobs and pay in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County had 4,525,711 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $83,554 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in South Pasadena itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in South Pasadena
6 public schools with 4,897 students, about 24.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Pasadena Senior High | 9-12 | 1,494 | 24.1 |
| South Pasadena Middle | 6-8 | 1,099 | 22.9 |
| Marengo Elementary | K-5 | 781 | 30.0 |
| Arroyo Vista Elementary | K-5 | 698 | 25.9 |
| Monterey Hills Elementary | K-5 | 584 | 23.4 |
| Academia Avance Charter (charter) | 6-12 | 241 | 17.2 |
Towns near South Pasadena
- Alhambra, CA2.1 mi · 82,868 people · home $857,800
- San Marino, CA2.7 mi · 12,513 people · home $2,000,001
- San Gabriel, CA3.5 mi · 39,568 people · home $945,700
- Pasadena, CA3.7 mi · 138,699 people · home $1,093,300
- Monterey Park, CA4.4 mi · 61,096 people · home $863,000
- East San Gabriel, CA4.4 mi · 22,769 people · home $962,200
- East Pasadena, CA4.9 mi · 6,021 people · home $1,069,200
- Rosemead, CA5.1 mi · 51,185 people · home $807,200
South Pasadena questions
Is South Pasadena, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Pasadena scores better for retirees than 41% of California towns and quieter than 9%. 13.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.5).
How much does a house cost in South Pasadena?
The median owner-occupied home in South Pasadena is valued at $1,640,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $127,175, so homes cost about 12.9 times income. Median rent is $2,284 a month.
What is the weather like in South Pasadena?
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 45.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does South Pasadena get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Pasadena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on March 22, 2023. The typical California town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)