Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pomona, CA
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Pomona leads 12 of 22 categories
Pomona
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
109,543
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Rent averages $137/mo less ($1,631 vs $1,768)
More college-educated — 18.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
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 Maria, CA
Pros
8% less violent crime than Pomona
Homes cost $87k less ($438,100 vs $524,700)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 90°F
Households earn $7,722 more per year on average
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Pomona
Summer Heat
17.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 113.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Santa Maria
Median Income
$7,722
$81,237 vs $73,515/yr
Santa Maria
Violent Crime
8% lower
660.6 vs 715.9 per 100k
Santa Maria
Median Home Value
$87k less
$438,100 vs $524,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pomona, CA | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $524,700⚠ High | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,631⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,515 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.1 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 165⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.2% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pomona Unified | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer | 64.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.5" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,831 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.9% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pomona's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Santa Maria is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pomona leads 12 of 22 categories. Pomona wins 12 and Santa Maria wins 10. 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 Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($524,700 vs $438,100 median home), income ($73,515 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pomona, CA and Santa Maria, CA are about 164 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.