Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Pomona, CA
🏆 Plano leads 18 of 23 categories
Plano
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pomona
California
5
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.
Plano, TX
Pros
79% less violent crime than Pomona
Households earn $32,164 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $112k less ($412,500 vs $524,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $32,164/yr
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$32,164
$105,679 vs $73,515/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
79% lower
151.6 vs 715.9 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$112k less
$412,500 vs $524,700
Plano
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.5% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Pomona, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $524,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High | $1,631⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 ✓ Higher | $73,515 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter | 32.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% ✓ Higher | 18.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 14.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 ✓ Larger | 149,831 |
| Median Age | 38.9 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Pomona's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Plano is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 18 of 23 categories. Plano wins 18 and Pomona wins 5. 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 Plano to Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $524,700 median home), income ($105,679 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Pomona, CA are about 1,210 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.