| Pasadena | Glendale | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house sale | $1.74M | $1.61M |
| Median condo sale | $806K | $634K |
| Median price per sq ft | $795 | $659 |
| Home styles | Craftsman bungalows, Colonial Revival and Spanish homes; Spanish, Tudor and Mediterranean estates in the Arroyo and Linda Vista; condos and courtyard buildings near Old Pasadena | 1920s Spanish Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival homes; ranch and mid-century homes in the canyons; high-rise and mid-rise condos downtown; bungalows and duplexes in the flats |
| Typical lots and terrain | Flat, tree-lined grid streets; hillside lots with canyon views on the west side | Curving foothill streets and larger lots under oaks; hillside view lots above; flatter streets south of the 134 |
| City | Its own city | Its own city, with Glendale Water and Power |
| Signature streets and anchors | Old Pasadena on Colorado Boulevard, the Rose Bowl and Arroyo Seco, the Norton Simon Museum, Caltech | The Americana at Brand and the Glendale Galleria, Brand Library & Art Center, the Alex Theatre, the Verdugo Mountains |
| Getting around | The 210, the 134 and the 110 Arroyo Seco Parkway; Metro A Line to Union Station | Where the 134, the 2 and the 5 meet; Metrolink at the Glendale Transportation Center; Beeline buses |
| Drive times (rough, off-peak) | Downtown LA often 15 to 25 minutes, Burbank about 20 | Downtown LA about 15 to 20 minutes, Pasadena and Burbank often 10 to 15 |
| Weather | Warm, dry summers below the San Gabriels; mild winters | Warm, dry summers below the Verdugos; mild winters |
| Eat drink shop highlights | Union, Agnes, Osawa, Howlin' Ray's | Mini Kabob, Raffi's Place, Damon's Steakhouse, Porto's |
Median prices: Redfin Data Center, zip codes 91107 and 91206, March to May 2026. Zip codes don't match neighborhood borders exactly.
The homes
Pasadena is the Craftsman capital of Southern California. Greene and Greene's 1908 Gamble House inspired thousands of shingled bungalows with wide porches and exposed rafters, and Bungalow Heaven, a city landmark district, has blocks of them nearly intact. Madison Heights and Prospect Park add larger Craftsman, Colonial Revival and Spanish homes, and on the west side, the Arroyo and Linda Vista hold Spanish, Tudor and Mediterranean estates with canyon views. Near Old Pasadena and the Playhouse District are condos, townhomes and 1920s courtyard buildings.
Glendale's best-known residential streets sit on the slopes north and east of downtown. Rossmoyne, developed mostly in the 1920s, has Spanish Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival homes with original tile, leaded glass and arched doorways. Verdugo Woodlands has 1920s to 1960s homes on larger lots under old oaks, and Chevy Chase Canyon winds into the hills with ranch, mid-century and custom homes. Downtown Glendale has high-rise and mid-rise condos, many built in the last 15 years, and the flats south of the 134 have bungalows, duplexes and courtyard buildings.
Prices
Both cities span many zip codes, so the figures on this page are a slice of each. The Pasadena figures use 91107, the east side of the city, while the Arroyo, Linda Vista and areas near South Pasadena generally run higher. The Glendale figures use 91206, the east side, including Rossmoyne and the edge of Verdugo Woodlands. In both, a restored 1920s house, a hillside estate and a downtown condo sit at very different price points.
The feel
Pasadena has an old downtown with real depth. Old Pasadena along Colorado Boulevard has restored brick storefronts and alleys of shops and restaurants, and the Rose Parade passes through every New Year's Day. The 1922 Rose Bowl sits in the Arroyo Seco with a golf course and a popular 3-mile loop, and the Norton Simon Museum, the Pasadena Playhouse and the Caltech campus round it out, with the San Gabriel Mountains filling the view to the north.
Glendale's center is Brand Boulevard, where the open-air Americana at Brand, with its lawn, fountain and trolley, faces the Glendale Galleria. The Alex Theatre's neon spire marks the boulevard, the Brand Library & Art Center sits in a white, Moorish-style 1904 mansion at the top of Brand Park, and the Verdugo Mountains rise right behind the city, with fire roads and trails from Brand Park and Deukmejian Wilderness Park.
Getting around
Glendale sits where the 134, the 2 and the 5 meet, so Burbank and Pasadena are often 10 to 15 minutes away off-peak, Downtown about 15 to 20 and Hollywood 20 to 25. Metrolink stops at the Glendale Transportation Center, and Hollywood Burbank Airport is about 15 minutes away. Pasadena is the hub of the west San Gabriel Valley, with the 210, the 134 and the 110 Arroyo Seco Parkway, the first freeway in the West, leading to Downtown in 15 to 25 minutes. Its Metro A Line stations give a one-seat ride to Union Station. A 19-mile bus rapid transit line linking North Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena began construction in 2026, with Metro targeting service by the 2028 Games.
City and rules
Neither is part of the City of Los Angeles, so City of LA rules, including LA's transfer tax measures, don't apply. Pasadena has its own permits, zoning, utilities and design review, and landmark districts like Bungalow Heaven, along with individually listed historic homes, have rules for exterior changes; check with City of Pasadena Planning. Glendale has its own planning, permits, design review and rental rules, and Glendale Water and Power supplies electricity and water. Foothill and hillside homes in both can sit in very high fire hazard severity zones, so check the address on CAL FIRE maps and get insurance quotes early. For 1920s houses in either, plan careful inspections of foundations, sewer lines and wiring.
Weather
The weather is similar. Both sit inland at the foot of the mountains, with warm, dry summers that run hotter than the Westside and mild winters with crisp mornings. Good AC and shade trees are worth checking on homes in either city.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between Pasadena and Glendale?
Both are their own cities on the 134. Pasadena is known for Craftsman bungalows, Arroyo estates, Old Pasadena and the Rose Bowl, with Metro A Line stations. Glendale has 1920s Spanish and Tudor foothill neighborhoods like Rossmoyne, a downtown of newer condos around Brand Boulevard and its own city-owned utility.
How far is Pasadena from Glendale?
Often 10 to 15 minutes on the 134 outside rush hour. The two cities share a border, and the North Hollywood to Pasadena bus rapid transit line under construction will connect them, with Metro targeting service in time for the 2028 Games.
Are Pasadena and Glendale part of Los Angeles?
No. Each is its own incorporated city with its own permits, zoning and design review, so City of LA rules, including LA's transfer tax measures, don't apply. Pasadena also has landmark districts like Bungalow Heaven with rules for exterior changes.
Which is closer to Downtown LA, Pasadena or Glendale?
Glendale, slightly. Downtown is about 15 to 20 minutes from Glendale off-peak via the 2 or the 5, and often 15 to 25 minutes from Pasadena via the 110. Pasadena has the rail option, with a one-seat Metro A Line ride to Union Station.
