Pasadena's got some great apartment complexes really close to the Gold Line train, which runs downtown. It also has a less-surburby, more "back east" feel to it than some other places in the area, though in my book anywhere in southern California is a great place to be, especially on a gorgeous day like today! I don't know what the Pasadena rental prices are like right now, but there should be a link somewhere in here
http://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/pasadena.asp that helps you out. Good luck!