The Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 estimates count about 149,433 people in Pasadena, with a median household income of $64,927. Compare personal loan offers by APR and total cost, confirm every fee in dollars, and check the lender's Texas license. Your own income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for.
On this page
- Pasadena at a glance
- Paychecks in Pasadena
- Residents and homes in Pasadena
- How steady is work around Pasadena?
- A median Pasadena budget
- Borrowing takeaways for Pasadena
- Pasadena in context
- Nearby places compared with Pasadena
- Getting to know Pasadena
- One common Pasadena case
- Steps to take first in Pasadena
- Nearby local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Pasadena at a glance
Figures are American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates for the city of Pasadena, Texas, with margins of error. They describe the place, not you.
Paychecks in Pasadena
By industry, the largest groups of Pasadena workers are in education and health care (18%), retail (14%) and construction (14%). Compared with the median place in our U.S. city set, Pasadena leans toward construction: 14% of workers against a median of 6%.
At the top of the scale, 7% of Pasadena households earn $200,000 or more; at the bottom, 27% earn under $35,000. Across our U.S. city set, the typical place sits at 20% under $35,000 and 39% at $100,000 or more.
Residents and homes in Pasadena
The median resident of Pasadena is 33.0 years old, and 16% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. Measured against the U.S. city set (median age 37.2, 37% with degrees), Pasadena is younger and below the typical education share.
Of every 100 homes in Pasadena, about 58 are detached houses and 31 sit in larger apartment buildings. Typical for our U.S. city pages: 61% detached, 22% in five-plus-unit buildings. Detached owners carry roofs, HVAC and yards, while apartment renters face deposits and moving trucks.
How steady is work around Pasadena?
Federal labor data show unemployment of 4.6% in Harris County for September 2026 (preliminary, not seasonally adjusted), down 0.3 points from 4.9% a year earlier. Inside Pasadena, the ACS five-year average for 2020 to 2024 is 8.6%.
A median Pasadena budget
Before taxes, the median Pasadena household takes in about $5,411 a month. Typical rent of $1,213 is 22% of it, compared with the 30% rule of thumb of $1,623. About $1,948 a month is what 36% of median gross income comes to here, a rough ceiling many lenders use for all debts combined. The typical home is priced at 3.2 times the median household income.
Borrowing takeaways for Pasadena
The Census Bureau's estimate for unemployment among Pasadena's labor force is 8.6%, higher than in most of the 784 U.S. city places we cover. If your income is uneven, borrow less, choose a payment you can sustain in a thin month and read the hardship terms.
Few Pasadena workers work from home (8%), lower than in most of the 784 U.S. city places we cover. Most people here have a workplace and a traditional pay stub, which can make income verification simpler.
Homes are comparatively affordable relative to income in Pasadena: a median value of $209,600 against a median household income of $64,927 (a ratio of about 3.2). Lower housing pressure often leaves more cash flow for debt payments.
Pasadena in context
Out of 784 U.S. city places in the data, Pasadena lands with a median household income of $64,927 (555th highest of 784), a median gross rent of $1,213 (567th highest of 784), and a median home value of $209,600 (641st highest of 784). These ranks describe a place, not a household.
Nearby in size, and also in Texas, are Denton ($76,019 income, $1,420 rent), where Pasadena runs 15% below on income and 15% below on rent and McAllen ($61,579 income, $1,049 rent), where Pasadena runs 5% above on income and 16% above on rent. Compare the same four numbers on every offer wherever you live.
Nearby places compared with Pasadena
A short list of nearby communities, sorted by distance from Pasadena, to show how quickly costs change over a few miles.
| Community | Distance | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Rent vs Pasadena |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Park | 3 mi | 33,967 | $100,382 | $1,318 | +$105 |
| South Houston | 5 mi | 16,033 | $53,497 | $1,212 | -$1 |
| La Porte | 6 mi | 36,730 | $80,753 | $1,378 | +$165 |
| Galena Park | 8 mi | 10,487 | $51,220 | $1,184 | -$29 |
| Nassau Bay | 9 mi | 5,230 | $71,696 | $1,331 | +$118 |
| El Lago | 9 mi | 2,997 | $95,625 | $1,374 | +$161 |
| Webster | 9 mi | 12,366 | $61,264 | $1,393 | +$180 |
| Cloverleaf | 9 mi | 24,063 | $54,994 | $1,155 | -$58 |
On income, Pasadena trails 4 of its 8 nearest neighbors; on rent, 3 of them are cheaper. Rent runs from $1,155 in Cloverleaf to $1,393 in Webster, and the highest median income nearby is $100,382 in Deer Park. Moving a few miles can change a budget more than a lower APR does, so run your numbers with the rent you actually pay.
Getting to know Pasadena
Pasadena is a Harris County city east of Houston along the Houston Ship Channel. Refineries and petrochemical plants are major employers, and plant turnaround and shift work can make pay uneven through the year.
One common Pasadena case
Energy-sector pay can follow commodity cycles. A lender looks at documented income, so avoid sizing a loan against a peak year.
Steps to take first in Pasadena
- Confirm the license with your state regulator before sharing details; the CFPB takes complaints about lenders.
- Try the free routes first: a credit union, a hardship plan or a nonprofit counselor may beat any loan (free options).
- Pull your credit reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before lenders look.
- Take a day to review a contract. A lender that rushes you has told you something.
- Get the same four numbers from every lender: what you receive, the APR, all fees and the total you will repay.
Nearby local guides
- Personal loans in Houston, TX
- Personal loans in Baytown, TX
- Personal loans in The Woodlands, TX
- Personal loans in Sugar Land, TX
- Personal loans in League City, TX
- Personal loans in Pearland, TX
Frequently asked questions
Is a personal loan possible for a Pasadena renter?
It is. An unsecured loan needs no collateral; the lender weighs your income, your credit file and how much you already owe each month. Without home equity to fall back on, the cheapest written offer matters more.
How does uneven pay in Pasadena affect loan qualification?
Lenders look at documented income over time, so a steady record helps. Choose a payment you can cover in your slowest quarter.
Is the fit check different for Pasadena residents?
No. Where you live inside a state does not change the questions or the rules. Only your own answers count, and lenders must follow fair-lending laws when they decide.
Who handles lender complaints for Pasadena residents?
Start with the Texas financial regulator or attorney general, then the CFPB complaint portal. If you were asked to pay a fee before getting a loan, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.