Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Pomona, CA
🏆 Denton leads 14 of 22 categories
Denton
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Pomona
California
8
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.
Denton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($296,100 vs $524,700)
71% less violent crime than Pomona
Rent averages $367/mo less ($1,264 vs $1,631)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,631/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Violent Crime
71% lower
204.2 vs 715.9 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$229k less
$296,100 vs $524,700
Denton
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.5% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 90.3°F
Pomona
Median Income
$1,594
$73,515 vs $71,921/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Pomona, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $524,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,631⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $73,515 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 32.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 18.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 14.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 149,831 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Pomona's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Denton is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Denton leads 14 of 22 categories. Denton wins 14 and Pomona wins 8. 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 Denton to Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $524,700 median home), income ($71,921 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Pomona, CA are about 1,186 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.