Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pomona, CA
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke leads 12 of 23 categories
Pomona
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,992 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
Higher rents — median is $1,631/mo
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $363k less ($162,000 vs $524,700)
Rent averages $714/mo less ($917 vs $1,631)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
13% less violent crime than Pomona
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Pomona by $21,992/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Pomona
Median Income
$21,992
$73,515 vs $51,523/yr
Roanoke
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Violent Crime
13% lower
620.4 vs 715.9 per 100k
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$363k less
$162,000 vs $524,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pomona, CA | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $524,700⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,631⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,515 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.1 min⚠ High | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.2% | 28.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.4% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pomona Unified | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.5" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,831 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.9% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 22.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pomona's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 12 of 23 categories. Pomona wins 11 and Roanoke wins 12. 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($524,700 vs $162,000 median home), income ($73,515 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pomona, CA and Roanoke, VA are about 2,120 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.