Pasadena

A Guide to Pasadena, Texas

Situated off of Highway 225 in between Deer Park and Houston, many Texans are proud to call Pasadena home. It’s one of those places where it’s quiet and safe, yet there’s always something to do. And as rich as the history is, locals are confident that the best is yet to come for this growing city. Whether you’re just passing through or looking to stay for a while, you can bet there are friendly faces waiting to greet you when you arrive.

The History of Pasadena

Pasadena, Texas was founded in 1893 by John H. Burnett of nearby Galveston. As you may have guessed, the name comes from Pasadena, California. Burnett chose the name because of the lush vegetation in the area, which reminded him of the original Pasadena out west. (Interestingly enough, Munger had never actually been to Pasadena, California himself. He had only heard stories.)

The success and growth of Pasadena in the early days can be directly attributed to its location and geographical makeup. In 1894, The La Porte, Houston, and Northern Railroad was built through the town and immediately made the area economically suitable for large-scale farming. Land promoter Cora Bacon foster and banker Charles R. Munger played big roles in organizing the community and the 1.5 million strawberry plants purchased by the American Red Cross after the Galveston hurricane of 1900 quickly gave Pasadena a major crop to rely on.

In the 1920s, just before the Great Depression, Pasadena experienced considerable economic growth. In addition to strawberries, cucumbers, cantaloupes, and other produce were quite profitable for local farmers. And while locals felt the economic downturn, farming kept the area sustainable.

Pasadena was voted to incorporate in 1923, but residents soon changed their minds and decided to cancel the incorporation less than a year later. However, Pasadena did eventually incorporate in 1928, which meant Houston was unable to incorporate it into its own city limits.

By the mid-20th century, Pasadena had become a major player in the petroleum industry. The development of NASA’s Johnson Space Center nearby in the Clear Lake City development (which is partially under Pasadena’s jurisdiction) also helped bring people and jobs to the area.

Over the course of the last few decades, Pasadena has become known as a working-class suburb of Houston. While many work in Pasadena, many more commute to Houston or one of the surrounding suburbs.

Pasadena Demographics

Today, the city of Pasadena is comprised of 44.5 square miles and has an estimated population of 153,887 people. That’s more than an 8 percent growth since the beginning of the 21st century.

The estimated median household income is right around $50,236, which is slightly lower than the median for the state of Texas. Pasadena is definitely a predominantly blue-collar town, with 21 percent of males employed in the construction industry and 20 percent in manufacturing.

Pasadena is mostly Hispanic (69 percent), while 26 percent identify as white or Caucasian. Because of the Hispanic influence, 44 percent of residents speak Spanish and 53 percent speak English.

Pasadena is a fairly young town, with the median age hovering right at 31 years old. For perspective, the median age is 33.9 in the state of Texas and 37.4 nationwide.

Areavibes gives Pasadena a “Livability” score of 73 out of 100, with categories like amenities, cost of living, education, and weather getting good grades, and crime, employment, and housing getting failing grades. For perspective, the statewide Livability average is 73 and the nationwide average is 66.

Pasadena Business Climate

“Each month, the city consistently sees millions of dollars of new commercial construction permits filed. Businesses are moving to Pasadena in record numbers, and some of the world’s leading companies now call the city home,” the City of Pasadena explains.

Just a few years back, Nestle Waters opened a facility up in the area and is quickly expanding. It bottles more than 72,000 bottles of water an hour and employs hundreds in the area. Crystal Geyser is also building a plant in the area.

The chemical industry is alive and well in Pasadena, with The Bayport Industrial District serving as the home for 60 different plants. These plants employ tens of thousands of people and produce hundreds of millions of dollars in annual economic activity.

According to the number of people employed, the top 10 employers in Pasadena include the Pasadena Independent School District, Dorsett Brothers Concrete Supply, San Jacinto College District, The Boeing Company, Mundy Company, Zachry Holdings, Shell – Deer Park, SGS Petroleum Service Corporation, Silver Eagle Distributors, and the City of Pasadena. The unemployment rate in Pasadena is less than 5 percent.

Pasadena Schools

The vast majority of the city is served by the Pasadena Independent School District, though some small parts are served by the Deer Park, Clear Creek, and La Porte Independent School Districts.

Overall, the schools in Pasadena are fairly average. GreatSchools gives a weighted score of 5 out of 10 to the city, while select schools – such as Sparks Elementary, Bondy Intermediate School, Carter Lomas Middle School, and Fairmont Elementary School – grade well individually. Nearby institutions of higher learning include the University of Houston-Clear Lake, San Jacinto College, and Texas Chiropractic College.

Things to Do in Pasadena

While Houston may offer the allure of bright lights and big city attractions, there’s still plenty to see and experience right in the heart of Pasadena. Here are a few of the highlights:

• Johnson Space Center. By far the biggest attraction in Pasadena, the Johnson Space Center is a must-see. Adults will enjoy it as much as kids, as it’s filled with interactive exhibits, training stations, and even a movie theater.
• San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. Want to brush up on the history of the Republic? Check out the San Jacinto Monument, which stands more than 100 meters high, and learn about more than 400 years of Texas history in the process.
• Armand Bayou Nature Center. The title of “largest urban nature preserve in the United States” belongs to the Armand Bayou Nature Center just outside of Pasadena. It has 2,500 acres of park, boardwalks, and marshland. There are more than 370 different animal species in the area and you can even take guided canoe tours on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month.

Pasadena Real Estate Market

According to Neighborhood Scout, there are 49,256 homes and apartments in Pasadena. The home ownership rate is 54 percent, while 46 percent of people pay an average of $980 per month to rent. The median value of homes in the area is $114, 904, with less than 10 percent of properties valued at more than $250,000. This makes Pasadena extremely affordable for homebuyers in any price range.

Since 2000, Pasadena residential real estate has appreciated by 61.76 percent, with the average annual rate hovering at 2.83 percent. The highest appreciating neighborhoods include Bay Area Blvd/Middlebrook Drive on the south side and Pasadena Fairway/Red Bluff Road on the north side.

Movoto is a little more generous with its real estate trends and estimates, suggesting that the median list price is $167,500 (as of May 2017).

Let Green Residential Help

At Green Residential, we specialize in helping people find homes in and around the Houston area. We’ve been in this market for three generations and are widely recognized as one of the most trusted names in the real estate industry. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact us at your earliest convenience.