Pasadena, CA vs Henderson, NV (living, best, state, better)

[Oistrakh12]

Which of these cities would you prefer to live in and why?

Also compare them in terms of
- Climate
- Dining scene
- Outdoor activities
- Nightlife
- Education
- Tourist attractions
- Shopping
- Downtown areas
- Job market

[achtung baby]

Originally Posted by Oistrakh12

Which of these cities would you prefer to live in and why?

Also compare them in terms of
- Climate
- Dining scene
- Outdoor activities
- Nightlife
- Education
- Tourist attractions
- Shopping
- Downtown areas
- Job market

I’ve never been to Henderson NV but I’m very familiar with Pasadena CA (lived in South Pasadena CA for 10 yrs.) Quite honestly I don’t think it’s even a match between these two (unless I’m really ignorant with what’s been developed in NV which I probably am.)

Climate: Pasadena is an individual city and considered a suburb in the Greater LA area, so very sunny nice weather all year round, Mediterranean climate at its best.

Dining scene: With Old Town Pasadena and quite a few colleges around you’ll get both chain restaurants and fine dining. Lake Avenue district also provides many shopping and dining.

Outdoors: You have Rose Bowl, the Eaton Canyon hiking, Huntington Museum/library, stables/equestrian resources for both kids and adults, Rose Bowl aquatics center, Kidspace Museum with its environs parks/tennis court…..too many to count.

Nightlight: I know nothing about nightlife in Pasadena. I’m sure it’s not lacking.

Education: Caltech, Pasadena City College, a few other art/design colleges whose names are escaping me now. A few k-12 private college prep schools that are big on legacy. Occidental College is in nearby Eagle Rock, very close proximity to Pasadena.

Tourist Attractions: Rose Bowl, Pasadena flea market, Kidspace Museum (I met people driving for an hour from the Valley taking their kids/grandkids just for the museum. My daughter met Brangelina’s kids there when she was 3. We saw all kinds of Hollywood celebs taking their kids there on a regular basis.) Norton Simon Museum, Rose Bowl parade, Huntington Botanic Garden/Museum, the Gamble House, USC Asian Pacific Museum, the Wrigley Mansion (the Rose Bowl house.) The Old Town Pasadena. Caltech campus……etc.

Shopping/Downtown: Old Town Pasadena. Garden variety of shopping from Tiffany to Crate & Barrel. Many young people and good energy.

Job market: Pasadena is a big medical center, many USC/UCLA affiliated hospitals nearby. Plus the faculty of the high education such as Caltech, NASA’s JPL lab, Pasadena Play House, Pasadena Symphony…..

Pasadena CA is also an architecture/design lover’s haven. Many significant, historic landmarks/architecture here. Bungalow Heaven is the neighborhood you can see an array of Craftsman houses.

I’m being brief, I love driving my daughter from our home to Pasadena through Orange Grove passing the Wrigley Mansion (the “Tournament House”) and make a left turn on Arbor and turn on Arroyo Seco all the way to Rose Bowl. It was scenic, peaceful and beautiful. I always called that part of Pasadena “a little piece of heaven”.

Pasadena CA is an amazing city. One of the best areas to live and to raise kids in Los Angeles.

[ccm123]

I agree with what the above poster mentioned. I have lived in both Pasadena and South Pasadena (separate city) and they are more desirable than Henderson. If I ever relocated back to Southern California, I would pick one of these two cities.

Few things to add: great golf courses (Brookside, La Canada Country Club - private), great dining on the east side of Pasadena (Hastings Ranch area), and generally, just a lot to do.

Lots of beautiful real estate also, especially in the Oak Knoll neighborhood, parts of East Pasadena & NW Pasadena (by the Rose Bowl stadium.)

[Oistrakh12]

Originally Posted by ccm123

I agree with what the above poster mentioned. I have lived in both Pasadena and South Pasadena (separate city) and they are more desirable than Henderson. If I ever relocated back to Southern California, I would pick one of these two cities.

Few things to add: great golf courses (Brookside, La Canada Country Club - private), great dining on the east side of Pasadena (Hastings Ranch area), and generally, just a lot to do.

Lots of beautiful real estate also, especially in the Oak Knoll neighborhood, parts of East Pasadena & NW Pasadena (by the Rose Bowl stadium.)

There are also great golf courses in Henderson! Desert Willow. Legacy, Dragonridge, etc

There's also great shopping and dining to be had at the District!

[ion475]

Pasadena and it's not even close.

Henderson is basically suburbia sprawl with suburbia malls and strip malls. It's not even Scottsdale AZ which at least have a "downtown" area.

Pasadena meanwhile has "Old Pasadena" area which alone beats anything Henderson has to offer.

Job market - SoCal will always be a much better job market than Vegas, period. Much more diversify. Meanwhile Vegas has what? Casinos and what else? Even within Pasadena itself you've JPL, you got CalTech, and you have various engineering offices. Henderson? What company is in Henderson?

At the end of the day it's apples and oranges anyway - Pasadena is more or less an "edge city" of LA and is an actual job center, while Henderson is basically a giant bedtown or ever sprawling Vegas.

And yes, I'll pick living in Pasadena all day...not like I can afford it, though.

[Oistrakh12]

Is there anywhere in Henderson that is remotely similar in feel to downtown Pasadena?

[Oistrakh12]

How does The District at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson compare with old town Pasadena?

[Gaylord_Focker]

Weather is such a big deal to me. Hard to consider Henderson.

[18Montclair]

Henderson is a nice suburb but I prefer Pasadena by far.