Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pomona, CA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Yakima leads 13 of 22 categories
Pomona
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pomona, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,781 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 40°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $281k less ($243,300 vs $524,700)
Rent averages $617/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,631)
24% less violent crime than Pomona
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pomona by $17,781/yr
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pomona
Median Income
$17,781
$73,515 vs $55,734/yr
Pomona
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Violent Crime
24% lower
544.3 vs 715.9 per 100k
Yakima
Median Home Value
$281k less
$243,300 vs $524,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pomona, CA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $524,700⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,631⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,515 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.1 min⚠ High | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 165⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.2% | 19.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.4% | 77.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pomona Unified | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.5" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,831 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.9% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pomona's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yakima leads 13 of 22 categories. Pomona wins 9 and Yakima 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($524,700 vs $243,300 median home), income ($73,515 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pomona, CA and Yakima, WA are about 878 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.