Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pomona, CA
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 13 of 21 categories
Pomona
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831 ✓ Larger
Torrance
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
145,454
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Homes cost $438k less ($524,700 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $501/mo less ($1,631 vs $2,132)
Smaller class sizes — 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $36,039/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
Torrance, CA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Pomona
Households earn $36,039 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2775.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Pomona
Median Home Value
$438k less
$524,700 vs $962,300
Pomona
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 75.6°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Torrance
Median Income
$36,039
$109,554 vs $73,515/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
57% lower
311.2 vs 715.9 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pomona, CA | Torrance, 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 | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,631⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,515 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.1 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 165⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.2% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.4% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pomona Unified | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.5" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,831 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.9% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pomona's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Torrance leads 13 of 21 categories. Pomona wins 8 and Torrance wins 13. 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 Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($524,700 vs $962,300 median home), income ($73,515 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pomona, CA and Torrance, CA are about 38 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.