Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Pomona, CA
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 16 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
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.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $74,712 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Pomona
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Pomona, CA
Pros
Rent averages $722/mo less ($1,631 vs $2,353)
Homes cost $113k less ($524,700 vs $637,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $74,712/yr
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$74,712
$148,227 vs $73,515/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
81% lower
138.1 vs 715.9 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.5% unemployment
Pomona
Median Home Value
$113k less
$524,700 vs $637,400
Pomona
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Pomona, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $524,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,631⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $73,515 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter | 32.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ 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 | A- (114) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 18.2% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" | 14.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 149,831 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 24.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Pomona's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Highlands Ranch is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 16 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch 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 Highlands Ranch to Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $524,700 median home), income ($148,227 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Pomona, CA are about 802 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.