Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lubbock, TX
VS
Pomona, CA
🏆 Lubbock leads 13 of 23 categories
Lubbock
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Pomona
California
10
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.
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $343k less ($181,600 vs $524,700)
Rent averages $538/mo less ($1,093 vs $1,631)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pomona by $14,781/yr
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pomona, CA
Pros
13% less violent crime than Lubbock
Households earn $14,781 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
Higher rents — median is $1,631/mo
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Lubbock
Key Differences at a Glance
Lubbock
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$343k less
$181,600 vs $524,700
Lubbock
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Pomona
Median Income
$14,781
$73,515 vs $58,734/yr
Pomona
Violent Crime
13% lower
715.9 vs 821.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lubbock, TX | Pomona, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $181,600 ✓ Lower | $524,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 ✓ Lower | $1,631⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,734 | $73,515 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter | 32.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% ✓ Higher | 18.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LUBBOCK ISD | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.5" | 14.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 258,190 ✓ Larger | 149,831 |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lubbock's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Pomona's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lubbock leads 13 of 23 categories. Lubbock wins 13 and Pomona wins 10. 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 Lubbock to Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($181,600 vs $524,700 median home), income ($58,734 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lubbock, TX and Pomona, CA are about 911 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.