Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Pomona, CA
🏆 Chico leads 14 of 23 categories
Chico
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
102,790
Pomona
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515 ✓ Higher
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.
Chico, CA
Pros
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Homes cost $97k less ($427,600 vs $524,700)
Rent averages $271/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,631)
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pomona by $7,583/yr
Pomona, CA
Pros
Households earn $7,583 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cons
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
Higher rents — median is $1,631/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chico
Violent Crime
2% lower
699.2 vs 715.9 per 100k
Chico
Median Home Value
$97k less
$427,600 vs $524,700
Chico
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 90.3°F
Pomona
Median Income
$7,583
$73,515 vs $65,932/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Pomona, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $524,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,631⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $73,515 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 32.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 18.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 14.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 149,831 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Pomona's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chico is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chico leads 14 of 23 categories. Chico wins 14 and Pomona wins 9. 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 Chico to Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $524,700 median home), income ($65,932 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Pomona, CA are about 453 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.