Are you thinking about making a move to Pasadena California and wondering if it would be the right move for you?
For those that are already familiar with Pasadena, it would not take much to say YES to moving to Pasadena, but for those of you that are not familiar with Pasadena California, this article is for you.
Pasadena California is located in Los Angeles County and according to the 2010 United States Census, the city’s population was 137,122, making it the 180th largest city in the United States, the 9th in Los Angeles County.
Pasadena maybe best known for hosting its iconic Tournament of Roses Parade and the Rose Bowl, but it’s also home to a wide variety of cultural amenities, shopping venues, incredible restaurants and a wealth of family friendly activities.
All of the above has helped the city live up to its Ojibwa Indian name, “Crown of the Valley”.
The Weather
Do you ever watch the Rose Parade and wonder to yourself how it is that almost every year, the weather on Jan 1, looks incredible in Pasadena?
Pasadena has a warm to hot Mediterranean like climate during the summer months and because of its location, both further inland and higher than Los Angeles, it has slightly hotter summers and colder winters.
The winter months are generally mild and wet, with January often brings heavier rain and rarely do the night temperatures dip to below freezing.
Spring weather in Pasadena is perfect, with comfortable, warm temperatures.
Dining and Shopping
Old Town Pasadena offers an incredible variety of local amenities that span 21 amazing blocks of fun and exciting things to do for all ages.
Old town offers a huge variety upscale retail stores and boutiques, an endless variety of restaurants, outdoor cafes, pubs, nightclubs, comedy clubs, renovated historic architecture and much more.
As the area developed, its revitalization turned it into an exceptional, urban village.
There’s an open air mall that encompasses three city blocks, the Arclight Cinemas and another shopping district that’s located in Old Town Pasadena’s South Lake Avenue community.
Things to Do
Popular things to do in Pasadena and vicinity include nightlife venues, the museums and galleries, visiting the nearby beaches, biking and hiking.
Pasadena’s Eaton Canyon Nature Preserve is a breathtaking natural area brimming with hiking trails, native wildlife, streams and interesting mineral deposits.
The Preserve also has an impressive visitors’ center, classrooms and a theater.
There’s also Brookside golf course in Pasadena and the Kidspace Children’s Museum, Pacific Asia Museum, art walking tours and more.
Since Pasadena is so close to Los Angeles, locals have access to a wealth of entertainment options that include Knotts Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Universal Studios Hollywood, Los Angeles Zoo, Disneyland Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood and more.
Job Opportunities
Since Pasadena is located in Los Angeles County, job opportunities here are fairly prevalent.
In Pasadena itself the top employers include Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Kaiser Permanente, Huntington Hospital, AT&T, Pasadena Unified School District, City of Pasadena, Bank of America, Pasadena City College and Art Center College of Design.
Education
The highly rated Pasadena Unified School District covers 76 square miles and includes Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre.
The city has 17 K through 5 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 4 high schools and several parochial and private schools.
Pasadena is also home to several higher education institutions, including Caltech (California Institute of Technology), the Art Center College of Design, the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts and also the highly rated Pasadena City College which was founded in 1924.
Pasadena City College alumni include Jackie Robinson, Octavia E. Butler and Jaime Escalante.
Pasadena is also home to the first tuition free online university, the University of the People, which awards accredited degrees.
Pasadena Real Estate
Pasadena is known for its historically rich architecture, created by legendary architects that include Reginald Johnson, Greene and Greene, Myron Hunt and Sylvanus Marston, who is believed to have been instrumental in establishing the city as a winter resort which played a part in making it the vibrant community it is today.
Many of Pasadena’s homes are from the “Arts and Crafts” era and include Bungalows, Craftman style homes and California Cottage models.
Craftsman style homes are characterized by their natural building materials, efficient floor plans, built-in shelves and cabinets and horizontal shapes.
More About Classic Craftsman Homes
Pasadena is one of the best places to look for classic craftsman homes, which between 1905 and 1930 were built across the United States.
The overwhelming majority of these residences were constructed in California, and the state is regarded as the center of the renowned architectural arts and crafts movement.
California craftsman homes were influenced by both California cottages and Spanish architecture, along with the Bungalow style architecture that was fairly popular during the early twentieth century.
These types of homes helped inspire the still popular California ranch style home.
Pasadena residential sales have invariably been high when it comes to craftsman style homes because they offer buyers the opportunity to purchase a home with a lot of character and rustic charm and in a variety of price ranges.
Most craftsman homes were built in the bungalow style, a design and style from India that was so popular that it quickly spread across the US.
Craftsman homes typically feature windows outlined with wood, exposed beams, a spacious front porch that is supported by two wooden beams. Stone and natural wood are extensively used in craftsman homes.
Today, there are a number of beautifully restored California craftsman residences on the market. These properties are superbly detailed and restored to historic perfection while including more up to date, modern conveniences.
A growing number of new home builders in the area are also starting to build replications of craftsman homes.
There are also a wide variety of other homes styles in Pasadena including ranch style homes, condos and more, guaranteed to fit any lifestyle.
Pasadena’s median home value is approximately 46.5% greater than California’s average and 228% higher than the National average.
The median asking price for homes in Pasadena is approximately 46.7% greater than the California average, 229% higher than the National average.
Livability
Pasadena is an extremely livable city with incredible weather, lots of local amenities, a stable housing market and low crime rates.
In addition, the city’s combination of historic preservation combined with sustainability makes it the kind of city that its residents benefit from and appreciate living in.
Besides being known as the home of the Rose Bowl and popular TV show the “Big Bang Theory”, the city’s beauty and rich history go beyond the basics.
The environmentally friendly side of the city comes through because of its impressive walk-ability and convenient public transportation.
The historic preservation element represented in the city shows itself through the substantial number of surviving 19th to 20th century California Craftsman homes.
So what are you waiting for? Move to Pasadena!Check out Pasadena homes for sale and Pasadena area rentals!