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CITY

South Pasadena

California · 25,503 residents (2025 est.) · 3.409 sq mi
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Part of the Los Angeles metro area
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Notable rankings
#70Most expensive homesof 6,786$1,640,000#243Most educatedof 6,82673.5%#226Most densely populatedof 4,8917,481
The short version

South Pasadena is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $127,175. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 73% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $1,640,000. Poverty is rare here, at 4.9% of residents. It ranks in the top 5% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.5
US median: 38.9
More educated
73% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 149%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
26,068
+7%since 2000
from 24,292 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
7,647 / sq mi
+7%since 2009
from 7,136 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.5
+8%since 2000
from 37.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:25,503 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
24K25K25K26K27K1990201020202024South Pasadena
202426K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.3%(1,369)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.7%(1,738)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.6%(1,977)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.9%(1,546)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243%(780)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.6%(3,018)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4418.2%(4,753)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5416.5%(4,291)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412%(3,129)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 747.2%(1,874)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.8%(1,255)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.3%(338)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$127,175
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $55,728 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$76,757
+135%since 2000
from $32,620 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
73.4%
+20.1 ptssince 2009
from 53.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
4.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 6.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.472
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.471 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services10.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration7.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food5.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Information5.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Retail trade4.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade3.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$1,640,000
+149%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $361,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,284
+51%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $833 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
44.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 44.1% in 2000
56.0% rent
Vacancy rate
5.5%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
28.1%
−7.6 ptssince 2009
from 35.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.9%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 38.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
12.9
+29%since 2009
from 10.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
67
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in South Pasadena on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic50.8%(12,344)
Black2.9%(708)
Hispanic / Latino16.1%(3,903)
Asian26.4%(6,424)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic35.2%(9,167)
Black2.8%(732)
Hispanic / Latino19.7%(5,144)
Asian35%(9,116)
Other7.3%(1,909)
Diversity Score
89
+8%since 2009
from 82 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican13.7%(3,568)
Guatemalan0.7%(190)
Salvadoran0.7%(190)
Ecuadorian0.6%(160)
Peruvian0.4%(112)
Nicaraguan0.4%(97)
Colombian0.3%(88)
Cuban0.2%(62)
Puerto Rican0.2%(60)
Spaniard0.2%(60)
+ 6 more hispanic origin groups with data
Chilean0.2%(41)
Argentine0.1%(37)
Panamanian0.1%(32)
Honduran0.1%(31)
Asian origin
Chinese17.7%(4,606)
Korean5.6%(1,464)
Filipino2.9%(768)
Japanese2.7%(711)
Taiwanese1.4%(362)
Vietnamese0.2%(62)
Thai0.1%(39)
Pakistani0.1%(20)
Cambodian0.1%(16)
Pacific Islander origin
Tongan0.2%(44)
Samoan0.1%(15)
Ancestry
German10.7%(2,786)
Irish9.5%(2,485)
English8%(2,078)
Italian4.3%(1,114)
French2.3%(587)
Polish1.9%(507)
American1.4%(356)
Norwegian1.1%(275)
Swedish1%(249)
Scottish0.9%(226)
Russian0.8%(218)
Scotch-Irish0.7%(184)
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.6%(163)
Swiss0.6%(157)
Portuguese0.5%(143)
British0.5%(136)
Welsh0.5%(134)
Arab0.5%(121)
Hungarian0.4%(110)
Ukrainian0.4%(105)
Iranian0.3%(89)
Austrian0.3%(75)
Greek0.3%(69)
Finnish0.2%(59)
West Indian0.2%(57)
Belgian0.2%(50)
Danish0.2%(49)
Australian0.2%(48)
Serbian0.2%(47)
Palestinian0.2%(41)
Syrian0.1%(37)
Czech0.1%(37)
Iraqi0.1%(36)
Jamaican0.1%(36)
Romanian0.1%(32)
Lithuanian0.1%(25)
Armenian0.1%(24)
Croatian0.1%(24)
Lebanese0.1%(20)
Slovak0.1%(19)
Canadian0.1%(16)
Egyptian0%(11)
Brazilian0%(11)
Turkish0%(10)
RANKED:Largest Chinese population · Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
73.5%
+17.4 ptssince 2000
from 56.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.2%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 93.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
34.2%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 25.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.9 min
+56%since 2000
from 19.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
58.9%
−19.6 ptssince 2009
from 78.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.3%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
3.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
29.9%
+24.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.1%
−1.4 ptssince 2011
from 6.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
72.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2011
from 71.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 17.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
68.4%
−13.4 ptssince 2009
from 81.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
Female
50.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 52.6% in 2009
Foreign born
25.5%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 27.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.1%
−43.2 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
8.2%
+1.8 ptssince 2012
from 6.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.8%
−85.2 ptssince 2013
from 88.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
96.7%
+7.6 ptssince 2017
from 89.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
62.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 61.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
11.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 11.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married38%(3,863)
Married56.2%(5,714)
Widowed0.8%(79)
Divorced5%(512)
Women 15+
Never married30.7%(3,322)
Married53.4%(5,778)
Widowed4.6%(495)
Divorced11.3%(1,221)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Frequently asked

How many people live in South Pasadena, California?

South Pasadena, California has about 26,068 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in South Pasadena, California?

The typical household in South Pasadena, California earns about $127,175 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is South Pasadena, California expensive?

In South Pasadena, California, the median home is worth about $1,640,000, and the typical rent is about $2,284 a month.

How educated are people in South Pasadena, California?

About 73.5% of adults age 25 and over in South Pasadena, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in South Pasadena, California?

About 4.9% of people in South Pasadena, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has South Pasadena, California grown since 1990?

Yes, South Pasadena, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,132 residents, a change of about 9 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →