Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pomona, CA
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Pomona leads 12 of 23 categories
Pomona
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
149,831 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,361 more per year on average
5% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,631/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $311k less ($213,300 vs $524,700)
Rent averages $406/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,631)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 21.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pomona by $16,361/yr
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Pomona
Median Income
$16,361
$73,515 vs $57,154/yr
Pomona
Violent Crime
5% lower
715.9 vs 752.4 per 100k
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$311k less
$213,300 vs $524,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pomona, CA | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $524,700⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,631⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,515 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.1 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.2% | 21.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.4% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pomona Unified | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.5" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,831 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.9% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pomona's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pomona leads 12 of 23 categories. Pomona wins 12 and Portsmouth wins 11. 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 Pomona to Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($524,700 vs $213,300 median home), income ($73,515 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pomona, CA and Portsmouth, VA are about 2,320 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.