Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Pomona, CA
🏆 Atlanta leads 12 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Pomona
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
149,831
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($395,600 vs $524,700)
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $119/mo less ($1,512 vs $1,631)
Cons
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pomona, CA
Pros
15% less violent crime than Atlanta
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 54°F
Cons
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Atlanta
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Atlanta
Median Income
$4,140
$77,655 vs $73,515/yr
Atlanta
Median Home Value
$129k less
$395,600 vs $524,700
Atlanta
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.5% unemployment
Pomona
Violent Crime
15% lower
715.9 vs 840.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Pomona, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $524,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,631⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $73,515 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter | 32.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 18.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 14.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 149,831 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Pomona's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Atlanta is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Atlanta leads 12 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 12 and Pomona wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Atlanta to Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $524,700 median home), income ($77,655 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Pomona, CA are about 1,903 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.