Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pomona, CA
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 West Covina leads 11 of 19 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
West Covina
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Homes cost $140k less ($524,700 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $423/mo less ($1,631 vs $2,054)
Cons
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails West Covina by $22,704/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2753.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
West Covina, CA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Pomona
Households earn $22,704 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 29.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pomona
Median Home Value
$140k less
$524,700 vs $664,500
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
West Covina
Median Income
$22,704
$96,219 vs $73,515/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
67% lower
239.3 vs 715.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pomona, CA | West Covina, 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 | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,631⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,515 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 165⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.2% | 29.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.4% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pomona Unified | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.9°F | 67.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.5" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,831 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.9% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pomona's cost of living index is 115.5 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, West Covina leads 11 of 19 categories. Pomona wins 8 and West Covina 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($524,700 vs $664,500 median home), income ($73,515 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pomona, CA and West Covina, CA are about 9 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.