Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pomona, CA
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Spokane leads 15 of 23 categories
Pomona
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831
Spokane
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
Households earn $10,199 more per year on average
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Spokane, WA
Pros
Homes cost $238k less ($286,900 vs $524,700)
Rent averages $571/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,631)
6% less violent crime than Pomona
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
More college-educated — 32.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pomona by $10,199/yr
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Pomona
Median Income
$10,199
$73,515 vs $63,316/yr
Pomona
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Spokane
Violent Crime
6% lower
674.9 vs 715.9 per 100k
Spokane
Median Home Value
$238k less
$286,900 vs $524,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pomona, CA | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $524,700⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,631⚠ High | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,515 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.1 min⚠ High | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.2% | 32.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.4% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pomona Unified | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.5" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,831 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.9% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pomona's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 15 of 23 categories. Pomona wins 8 and Spokane 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($524,700 vs $286,900 median home), income ($73,515 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pomona, CA and Spokane, WA are about 940 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.