Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Pomona, CA
🏆 Little Rock leads 15 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Pomona
California
8
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.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $319k less ($205,800 vs $524,700)
Rent averages $625/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,631)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pomona by $14,818/yr
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pomona, CA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $14,818 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
Higher rents — median is $1,631/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Little Rock
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$319k less
$205,800 vs $524,700
Little Rock
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.5% unemployment
Pomona
Median Income
$14,818
$73,515 vs $58,697/yr
Pomona
Violent Crime
57% lower
715.9 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Pomona, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $524,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,631⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $73,515 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 18.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 14.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 149,831 |
| Median Age | 36.6 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Pomona's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 15 of 23 categories. Little Rock 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 Little Rock to Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $524,700 median home), income ($58,697 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Pomona, CA are about 1,445 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.