Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Pomona, CA
🏆 Lancaster leads 12 of 21 categories
Lancaster
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Pomona
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
149,831
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $156k less ($368,800 vs $524,700)
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.5%)
Pomona, CA
Pros
14% less violent crime than Lancaster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 98°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
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
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$156k less
$368,800 vs $524,700
Lancaster
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 90.3°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Pomona
Median Income
$2,148
$73,515 vs $71,367/yr
Pomona
Violent Crime
14% lower
715.9 vs 834.7 per 100k
Pomona
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Pomona, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $524,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,631⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $73,515 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | C (79) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% ✓ Higher | 18.2% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 14.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 ✓ Larger | 149,831 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 24.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Pomona's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Lancaster leads 12 of 21 categories. Lancaster wins 12 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 Lancaster to Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $524,700 median home), income ($71,367 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Pomona, CA are about 50 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.