Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Pomona, CA
🏆 Durham leads 15 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Pomona
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $208k less ($316,600 vs $524,700)
14% less violent crime than Pomona
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $335/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,631)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pomona, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°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
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Durham
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Income
$1,195
$74,710 vs $73,515/yr
Durham
Violent Crime
14% lower
619.2 vs 715.9 per 100k
Durham
Median Home Value
$208k less
$316,600 vs $524,700
Durham
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.5% unemployment
Pomona
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Pomona, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $524,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,631⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $73,515 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 18.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 14.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 149,831 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Pomona's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Durham is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 15 of 23 categories. Durham wins 15 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 Durham to Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $524,700 median home), income ($74,710 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Pomona, CA are about 2,188 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.