Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pomona, CA
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 15 of 22 categories
Pomona
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831
Santa Clarita
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Rent averages $684/mo less ($1,631 vs $2,315)
Homes cost $145k less ($524,700 vs $669,200)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $42,671/yr
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
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
77% less violent crime than Pomona
Households earn $42,671 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Longer commutes — 35.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Pomona
Median Home Value
$145k less
$524,700 vs $669,200
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$42,671
$116,186 vs $73,515/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
77% lower
165.4 vs 715.9 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.5% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pomona, CA | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $524,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,631⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,515 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 165⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | C+ (84) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.2% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.4% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pomona Unified | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.5" ✓ Drier | 15.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,831 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.9% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pomona's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 15 of 22 categories. Pomona wins 7 and Santa Clarita wins 15. 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 Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($524,700 vs $669,200 median home), income ($73,515 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pomona, CA and Santa Clarita, CA are about 49 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.