Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pomona, CA
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Riverside leads 16 of 22 categories
Pomona
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831
Riverside
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Rent averages $80/mo less ($1,631 vs $1,711)
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
Median income trails Riverside by $9,933/yr
Riverside, CA
Pros
18% less violent crime than Pomona
Households earn $9,933 more per year on average
More college-educated — 24.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
Homes cost $39k less ($485,500 vs $524,700)
Cons
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Median Income
$9,933
$83,448 vs $73,515/yr
Riverside
Violent Crime
18% lower
589.7 vs 715.9 per 100k
Riverside
Median Home Value
$39k less
$485,500 vs $524,700
Riverside
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pomona, CA | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $524,700⚠ High | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,631⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,515 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.1 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 8.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 165⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.2% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.4% | 82.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pomona Unified | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.9°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.5" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,831 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.9% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pomona's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Riverside leads 16 of 22 categories. Pomona wins 6 and Riverside wins 16. 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($524,700 vs $485,500 median home), income ($73,515 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pomona, CA and Riverside, CA are about 23 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.