Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
Pomona, CA
🏆 Ontario leads 15 of 22 categories
Ontario
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Pomona
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ontario, CA
Pros
62% less violent crime than Pomona
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.8%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
Households earn $4,555 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Pomona, CA
Pros
Rent averages $195/mo less ($1,631 vs $1,826)
Cons
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
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Ontario
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Ontario
Median Income
$4,555
$78,070 vs $73,515/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
62% lower
272.2 vs 715.9 per 100k
Ontario
Median Home Value
$12k less
$513,000 vs $524,700
Ontario
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.5% unemployment
Ontario
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | Pomona, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $524,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High | $1,631⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 ✓ Higher | $73,515 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | C (79) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% ✓ Higher | 18.2% |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 14.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 ✓ Larger | 149,831 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 24.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Pomona's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Ontario is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Ontario leads 15 of 22 categories. Ontario wins 15 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 Ontario to Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $524,700 median home), income ($78,070 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and Pomona, CA are about 9 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.