Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pomona, CA
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Pomona
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
149,831
Springfield
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,838 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (6.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 35°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 17% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $326k less ($198,500 vs $524,700)
Rent averages $584/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,631)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pomona by $25,838/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 6.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pomona
Median Income
$25,838
$73,515 vs $47,677/yr
Pomona
Violent Crime
20% lower
715.9 vs 891.4 per 100k
Pomona
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.7% unemployment
Pomona
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$326k less
$198,500 vs $524,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pomona, CA | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $524,700⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,631⚠ High | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,515 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.1 min⚠ High | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.2% | 20.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.4% | 79.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pomona Unified | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.5" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,831 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.9% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pomona's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Pomona wins 11 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($524,700 vs $198,500 median home), income ($73,515 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pomona, CA and Springfield, MA are about 2,491 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.