Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pomona, CA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach leads 16 of 22 categories
Pomona
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Households earn $9,471 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
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
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($324,800 vs $524,700)
20% less violent crime than Pomona
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 68°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pomona by $9,471/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pomona
Median Income
$9,471
$73,515 vs $64,044/yr
West Palm Beach
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
20% lower
575.8 vs 715.9 per 100k
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$200k less
$324,800 vs $524,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pomona, CA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $524,700⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,631⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,515 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.1 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 165⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.2% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.4% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pomona Unified | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.9°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.5" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,831 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.9% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pomona's cost of living index is 115.5 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
West Palm Beach is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 16 of 22 categories. Pomona wins 6 and West Palm Beach wins 16. 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 Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($524,700 vs $324,800 median home), income ($73,515 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pomona, CA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 2,286 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.