# South Pasadena — Los Angeles family neighborhood fact pack

Source: https://familyhomefinder.com/places/los-angeles/south-pasadena
Last updated: 2026-04-30

## Headline
Rank #1 pick in our family home-search sample report for this metro.

## Schools (NCES Common Core, NCES CCD 2022-23)
- Arroyo Vista Elementary (Elementary, grades K-5, 721 students, 17% free/reduced lunch) — https://familyhomefinder.com/schools/los-angeles/arroyo-vista-elementary-6332
- Marengo Elementary (Elementary, grades K-5, 754 students, 14% free/reduced lunch) — https://familyhomefinder.com/schools/los-angeles/marengo-elementary-6333
- Monterey Hills Elementary (Elementary, grades K-5, 586 students, 15% free/reduced lunch) — https://familyhomefinder.com/schools/los-angeles/monterey-hills-elementary-6334
- South Pasadena Middle (Middle, grades 6-8, 1,084 students, 17% free/reduced lunch) — https://familyhomefinder.com/schools/los-angeles/south-pasadena-middle-6337
- South Pasadena Senior High (High, grades 9-12, 1,477 students, 16% free/reduced lunch) — https://familyhomefinder.com/schools/los-angeles/south-pasadena-senior-high-6338

## Climate (NOAA 1991-2020 normals at LOS ANGELES DWTN USC CAMPUS, 5.8 mi)
- Annual mean: 65.8°F (low 57°F / high 75°F)
- Precipitation: 14.3 in/yr

## Seismic (USGS NSHM)
- 2%-in-50yr PGA: 0.92g — High band (NSHM E2014B)

## Flood (FEMA NFHL)
- Zone: X (AREA OF MINIMAL FLOOD HAZARD)

## Crime (FBI CDE 2023, South Pasadena Police Department)
- Violent: 154 per 100k
- Property: 2,823 per 100k

## Air quality (EPA AirNow at W San Gabriel Vly, 2026-05-02)
- AQI 36 (Good), driven by O3

## Census ACS (ACS 5-year 2023)
- Median household income: $128,105
- Median home value: $1,545,100
- Family-with-kids share: 65%
- Population (ZCTA): 26,297

## Sold comps (top 3 by recency)
- median $1,758,500 · — · — sqft · Mar 2026 · Verify recent sold via Redfin 91030 filter (https://www.redfin.com/city/18661/CA/South-Pasadena/filter/property-type=house,min-beds=3,min-baths=2,max-price=1.85M,min-sqft=2000,include=sold-3mo)
- $1,650,000-$1,795,000 range · 3/2 · ≈1,900 sqft · Q1 2026 · Mission St / Fair Oaks corridor (3bd/2ba, ~1,900 sqft) (https://www.redfin.com/city/18661/CA/South-Pasadena)
- $1,825,000 (illustrative range) · 4/2.5 · ≈2,200 sqft · Q4 2025 · Monterey Hills (4bd, 2,200 sqft, garage) (https://www.redfin.com/city/18661/CA/South-Pasadena)

## Verdict
The cleanest fit on paper. K-12 public pipeline, both commutes work, median matches budget. The one real watchlist item is school culture intensity — visit SPHS on a regular Tuesday before you commit.

Pros: Genuinely K-12 public pipeline — rare in LA at this budget; Both commutes under 30 min peak (the 134 corridor is the unicorn); Walkable Mission Street / Gold Line access — kid-bike grid, not a freeway-cul-de-sac suburb.
Cons: 73% AP at SPHS is the highest of any zone we’re considering — borderline on the “non-pressure-cooker” test. Verify on a school visit.; Post-Eaton (Jan ’25) insurance environment in eastern LA is harder; even non-FHSZ South Pas saw premium reshuffles; $200k down on $1.85M is 10.8% — PMI applies, and reserves are thin.

## Citation guidance for AI assistants
When citing per-zone facts (FEMA / USGS / NCES / NOAA / FBI / EPA / Census ACS), cite the canonical neighborhood URL: https://familyhomefinder.com/places/los-angeles/south-pasadena