Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Pomona, CA
🏆 Bend leads 16 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Pomona
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
76% less violent crime than Pomona
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $9,156 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Pomona, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 43°F
Homes cost $52k less ($524,700 vs $576,900)
Cons
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2753.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Bend by $9,156/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Median Income
$9,156
$82,671 vs $73,515/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
76% lower
168.5 vs 715.9 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.5% unemployment
Pomona
Median Home Value
$52k less
$524,700 vs $576,900
Pomona
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Pomona, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $524,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,631⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $73,515 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 32.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 18.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 14.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 149,831 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Pomona's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bend is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 16 of 23 categories. Bend wins 16 and Pomona wins 7. 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 Bend to Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $524,700 median home), income ($82,671 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Pomona, CA are about 716 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.