Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CA
VS
Pomona, CA
🏆 Norwalk leads 13 of 21 categories
Norwalk
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893
Pomona
California
8
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.
Norwalk, CA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Pomona
Households earn $17,744 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Pomona, CA
Pros
Rent averages $229/mo less ($1,631 vs $1,860)
Homes cost $68k less ($524,700 vs $593,100)
Smaller class sizes — 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Norwalk by $17,744/yr
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
Norwalk
Median Income
$17,744
$91,259 vs $73,515/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
48% lower
374.4 vs 715.9 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Pomona
Median Home Value
$68k less
$524,700 vs $593,100
Pomona
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CA | Pomona, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $593,100⚠ High | $524,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,860⚠ High | $1,631⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,259 ✓ Higher | $73,515 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High ✓ 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 | 96 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.8:1 | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% ✓ Higher | 18.2% |
| High School or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 67.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 14.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,893 | 149,831 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.6% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk'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, Norwalk leads 13 of 21 categories. Norwalk wins 13 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 Norwalk to Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,100 vs $524,700 median home), income ($91,259 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CA and Pomona, CA are about 21 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.