Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pomona, CA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 14 of 23 categories
Pomona
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
149,831 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,459 more per year on average
26% less violent crime than South Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 32°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 24% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $411k less ($113,800 vs $524,700)
Rent averages $696/mo less ($935 vs $1,631)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 28.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Pomona by $24,459/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Pomona
Median Income
$24,459
$73,515 vs $49,056/yr
Pomona
Violent Crime
26% lower
715.9 vs 965.0 per 100k
Pomona
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$411k less
$113,800 vs $524,700
South Bend
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pomona, CA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $524,700⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,631⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,515 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.1 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.2% | 28.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.4% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pomona Unified | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.5" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,831 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.9% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pomona's cost of living index is 115.5 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 14 of 23 categories. Pomona wins 9 and South Bend wins 14. 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 South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($524,700 vs $113,800 median home), income ($73,515 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pomona, CA and South Bend, IN are about 1,785 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.