Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pomona, CA
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Santa Monica leads 11 of 21 categories
Pomona
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
149,831 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Homes cost $1130k less ($524,700 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $596/mo less ($1,631 vs $2,227)
8% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 62°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $33,282/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 Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,282 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pomona
Violent Crime
8% lower
715.9 vs 778.0 per 100k
Pomona
Median Home Value
$1130k less
$524,700 vs $1,654,800
Pomona
Summer Heat
20.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 69.4°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Santa Monica
Median Income
$33,282
$106,797 vs $73,515/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pomona, CA | Santa Monica, 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 | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,631⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,515 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.1 min⚠ High | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.2% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.4% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pomona Unified | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer | 62.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.5" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,831 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.9% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pomona's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Santa Monica leads 11 of 21 categories. Pomona wins 10 and Santa Monica wins 11. 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 Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($524,700 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($73,515 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pomona, CA and Santa Monica, CA are about 42 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.