Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pomona, CA
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Renton leads 13 of 23 categories
Pomona
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Rent averages $233/mo less ($1,631 vs $1,864)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Homes cost $52k less ($524,700 vs $576,800)
Cons
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Renton by $18,777/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
Renton, WA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Pomona
Households earn $18,777 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Pomona
Median Home Value
$52k less
$524,700 vs $576,800
Pomona
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Renton
Median Income
$18,777
$92,292 vs $73,515/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
53% lower
339.2 vs 715.9 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pomona, CA | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $524,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,631⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,515 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.1 min⚠ High | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 165⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.2% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.4% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pomona Unified | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.5" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,831 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.9% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pomona's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Renton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Renton leads 13 of 23 categories. Pomona wins 10 and Renton wins 13. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($524,700 vs $576,800 median home), income ($73,515 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pomona, CA and Renton, WA are about 955 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.