Pasadena Home Prices: $1.18M, Up 0.7% — 6 ZIPs Analyzed (2026)
$1,179,862. That’s the median home value in Pasadena as of February 2026. Prices are up 0.7% from a year ago — modest growth after a soft summer that pulled values down to $1.16M before they recovered.
Quick answer: The average home price in Pasadena, CA is $1,179,862 as of February 2026, up 0.7% year over year according to Zillow.
Current Home Prices in Pasadena
Pasadena sits firmly in seven-figure territory. The typical home is worth more than four times the national median, and even the cheapest ZIP code clears $779K.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,179,862 |
| Year-over-year change | +0.7% |
| Most expensive ZIP | 91105 ($1,814,025) |
| Least expensive ZIP | 91101 ($779,207) |
| Price spread (max ÷ min) | 2.3x |
| ZIP codes analyzed | 6 |
| Data through | February 2026 |
The 0.7% annual gain is small. For comparison, the median home added roughly $7,900 in value over 12 months — a homeowner’s monthly mortgage interest can wipe that out in days. This is a flat market dressed up as growth.
The spread between ZIPs tells the real story. Pasadena’s priciest ZIP, 91105, is worth 2.3 times its cheapest ZIP. That gap exists inside a city of about 137,000 people. Buyers shopping by neighborhood will see entirely different markets within the same school district boundaries.
The bottom of the range hasn’t moved much either. ZIP 91101’s median has barely budged from $797,933 in March 2025 to $779,207 today — actually down 2.3%. Higher-end ZIPs carried the citywide gain.
Pasadena Home Prices by Neighborhood
Six ZIP codes cover Pasadena. The order from cheapest to most expensive:
| ZIP | Median Home Value | Avg Rent (ZORI) |
|---|---|---|
| 91101 | $779,207 | $2,898 |
| 91106 | $921,725 | $2,771 |
| 91103 | $1,065,519 | $3,546 |
| 91104 | $1,194,066 | $2,649 |
| 91107 | $1,304,628 | $3,008 |
| 91105 | $1,814,025 | $3,468 |
Most Expensive
- 91105 — $1,814,025. This ZIP covers South Arroyo and the area west of the 110 freeway. It runs 54% above the city median and is the only Pasadena ZIP above $1.5M.
- 91107 — $1,304,628. East Pasadena. About 11% above the city median, with rents in the middle of the pack at $3,008.
- 91104 — $1,194,066. Northeast Pasadena. Just barely above the median at $1.19M, but rents here are the lowest of any ZIP at $2,649.
Most Affordable
- 91101 — $779,207. Downtown Pasadena. Sits 34% below the city median and is the only ZIP under $1M.
- 91106 — $921,725. Caltech-area ZIP. About 22% below the citywide median with the second-lowest rent in town.
- 91103 — $1,065,519. Northwest Pasadena. Below the city median by 10%, but rents here are the highest in the city at $3,546 — an unusual gap that favors landlords over owners.
Rent vs Buy in Pasadena
Renting wins by a wide margin in 2026.
The average rent across Pasadena’s 6 ZIPs is $3,057 per month. ZORI rents range from $2,649 in 91104 to $3,546 in 91103.
Buying tells a different story. On a $1,179,862 home with 20% down ($235,972) and a 30-year mortgage at current rates near 7%, the principal and interest alone runs about $6,280 a month. Add property tax (California averages roughly 1.1% of assessed value) at about $1,080 monthly, plus homeowners insurance near $200, and total housing cost lands close to $7,560 per month.
| Cost | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Average rent (citywide) | $3,057 |
| Mortgage on median home (20% down, 7%) | $6,280 |
| Property tax | $1,080 |
| Insurance | $200 |
| Total ownership cost | ~$7,560 |
That’s a $4,500 monthly gap — about $54,000 a year — favoring renters. A renter would need home values to grow far faster than 0.7% annually to make ownership the better financial deal in the short term. At the current pace, building $54,000 in equity through appreciation alone would take more than five years on the median home.
The math shifts in 91104, where rent runs $2,649 and buying still sits near $7,500. The gap widens in cheaper ZIPs but stays large everywhere.
Population Growth and Migration
Pasadena is shrinking. The city had 139,373 residents in 2020 and 137,195 in 2024 — a loss of 2,178 people, or 1.6%, over four years.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 139,373 |
| 2021 | 137,039 |
| 2022 | 135,654 |
| 2023 | 135,699 |
| 2024 | 137,195 |
The decline bottomed out in 2022 and has reversed slightly. Pasadena added back about 1,540 residents from 2022 to 2024, but the city is still 1.6% smaller than it was in 2020.
That trend stands out against the rest of the state. Most California cities of comparable size are growing.
| City | 2024 Population | 4-Year Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | 417,468 | +3.0% |
| Sacramento | 535,798 | +1.9% |
| San Diego | 1,404,452 | +1.4% |
| Fresno | 550,105 | +1.4% |
| Oakland | 443,554 | +0.6% |
| Pasadena | 137,195 | -1.6% |
A shrinking population usually pulls housing demand down with it. Pasadena’s prices have held up anyway, which suggests demand is being driven by buyers moving in from elsewhere — not local population growth. That makes the market more sensitive to outside money. If LA-area migration slows, prices could weaken faster than they would in a city growing organically.
Pasadena Housing Market Trends
The 12-month trend shows a market that dipped through summer 2025 and has been climbing back since.
| Month | Median |
|---|---|
| Mar 2025 | $1,171,918 |
| Apr 2025 | $1,169,597 |
| May 2025 | $1,167,258 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,163,894 |
| Jul 2025 | $1,160,792 |
| Aug 2025 | $1,158,972 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,161,053 |
| Oct 2025 | $1,164,612 |
| Nov 2025 | $1,169,292 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,174,857 |
| Jan 2026 | $1,178,544 |
| Feb 2026 | $1,179,862 |
August 2025 was the bottom at $1,158,972. From there, prices have risen for six straight months, adding back nearly $21,000 — about 1.8% — by February.
The pace has slowed though. Between November and December, the median jumped $5,565. Between January and February, it added just $1,318. The recovery is real, but momentum is fading.
Is Pasadena a Good Place to Buy in 2026?
The data points to a balanced-to-soft market, not a buyer’s frenzy or a seller’s boom.
Prices are up just 0.7% over the past year. The bottom-end ZIP (91101) is actually down 2.3%. The recent recovery from the August low has slowed to under $1,500 a month — barely moving.
For buyers: there’s no urgency. A home today costs almost exactly what it cost six months ago. With renting cheaper than buying by $4,500 a month, the financial case for buying rests on long-term appreciation that hasn’t shown up in the data.
For sellers: the market isn’t bidding prices up. Listings priced above the local ZIP median may sit. The price spread between ZIPs (2.3x) means hyperlocal pricing matters more than ever.
The fundamentals are mixed. Population is below 2020 levels. Prices are flat. Rents support landlords more than owners. This is a market for buyers who want the area, not buyers chasing returns.
Pasadena Housing Market Outlook for 2026-2027
The 6-month trend shows recovery, but the pace is decelerating. From August 2025’s low, prices climbed 1.8% in six months. The most recent month added just 0.1%.
If the current pace continues, Pasadena ends 2026 with a median in the $1.19M to $1.20M range — a roughly 1-2% annual gain on top of the 0.7% already booked.
Two things could change that. A drop in mortgage rates would likely push prices higher, especially in the high-end ZIPs (91105, 91107) where buyers are rate-sensitive. A continued population decline would do the opposite, eventually softening demand at every price point.
The 3-month trend suggests neither boom nor bust through mid-2026. Expect more of the same: small monthly gains, large gaps between ZIPs, and rent staying well below ownership costs.
Similar Markets in CA
- Los Angeles — the parent metro market and the obvious comparison for any Pasadena buyer.
- Long Beach — another LA-county city with a different price tier and coastline access.
- Anaheim — Orange County alternative for buyers wanting suburban LA-area pricing.
- Riverside — Inland Empire option for buyers priced out of Pasadena.
- San Diego — comparable lifestyle market further south, useful as a price benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average home price in Pasadena?
The median home value in Pasadena, CA is $1,179,862 as of February 2026. That figure is the citywide average across 6 ZIP codes, ranging from $779,207 in 91101 to $1,814,025 in 91105.
Are home prices going up or down in Pasadena?
Prices are up 0.7% year over year. The market dipped to $1,158,972 in August 2025 before climbing back. Six straight months of gains have added about $21,000 to the median, but the most recent month grew just 0.1%.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Pasadena?
Renting is cheaper by roughly $4,500 a month. Average rent across the 6 ZIPs is $3,057, while owning the median $1.18M home costs near $7,560 a month with 20% down at 7% rates, including property tax and insurance.
What is the most affordable neighborhood in Pasadena?
ZIP 91101 — downtown Pasadena — is the cheapest at a $779,207 median. That’s about 34% below the citywide median and the only Pasadena ZIP under $1M. Average rent there is $2,898 a month.
Methodology
Home values are based on the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), a smoothed measure of typical home values in the 35th to 65th percentile range. Rent estimates use the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Population figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (2020-2024 vintage). All datasets are publicly available. Housing data updated 2026-02-28.