South Pasadena, California Income Statistics
South Pasadena Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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A+
South Pasadena Top grade
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | South Pasadena | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $129,244 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $92,834 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.3% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 32.0% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 31.4% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in South Pasadena is about 30% higher than in California. Income has been growing slower in South Pasadena (5.3%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 32% of adults in South Pasadena earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in South Pasadena, California grew by 58.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $129,244 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in South Pasadena
| Metric | South Pasadena | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.501 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $113,520 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $88,619 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.9% | 12.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In South Pasadena, it is 0.501, lower than California's 0.572, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 28% more than women's income in South Pasadena, California. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $871,535 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in South Pasadena, California has narrowed from about 23% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2021, and was narrowest at 7% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $8,100 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | South Pasadena | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 29.9% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 27 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 754 people are unemployed in South Pasadena, California.
The average commute time in South Pasadena is 27 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in South Pasadena, California has fallen from 6.4% to 5.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.2% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.0% in 2019.
South Pasadena, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
South Pasadena, CA is the smallest of the 4 cities compared here, 26,044 residents against a local median of 80,973. The measure that sets South Pasadena, CA apart most is median household income: $129,244, 40% above the local median of $92,183. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 5.3%/yr against a local median of 6.4%/yr, 18% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: median household income runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so South Pasadena, CA is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The cities themselves sit within $16,162 of each other on median household income, a tighter band than the gap between any of them and South Pasadena, CA, which makes it a genuine outlier here rather than one end of a wide local spread. South Pasadena, CA has the highest median household income of the 4 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Pasadena, CA | 26,044 | $129,244 #1/4 | 5.3%/yr #3/4 | 5.1% #1/4 | 0.501 #1/4 |
| Alhambra, CA | 80,973 | $88,732 | 6.4%/yr | 5.2% | 0.559 |
| Pasadena, CA | 138,535 | $104,894 | 4.8%/yr | 5.7% | 0.544 |
| San Gabriel, CA | 40,046 | $92,183 | 6.8%/yr | 5.9% | 0.586 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, South Pasadena, California has an overall wealth index grade of A+, making it notably better than California, and far better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in South Pasadena, California.
How Rich Is South Pasadena, California?
South Pasadena has a wealth index grade of A+. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A+ grade means it is one of the most prosperous areas in the country. The median household income is $129,244, about 30% higher than the California average of $99,161.
Are incomes growing in South Pasadena, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in South Pasadena, California rose 58%, from $81,565 to $129,244. Over the same years, income here lagged behind California as a whole: +58% against +64%.
What was the median household income in South Pasadena in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in South Pasadena, California was $126,273, down 1% from $127,623 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in South Pasadena in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in South Pasadena, California was $114,279. By 2024 it had risen 13% to $129,244.
Do many residents of South Pasadena, California earn over $100,000?
Yes. 32% of adults in South Pasadena, California earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 3), against 18% (about 1 in 6) in California. 31% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 20% in California.
Is unemployment high in South Pasadena, California?
Unemployment in South Pasadena, California is only 5.1%, well below the California rate of 6.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in South Pasadena, California?
The Gini coefficient in South Pasadena is 0.501. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in South Pasadena, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in South Pasadena, California has narrowed from about 23% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2021, and was narrowest at 7% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $8,100 since 2009.
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