What to Know Before Moving to Pomona

Things to Do

From antique hunting to exciting nighttime entertainment, there’s plenty to keep you busy in Pomona. The Fairplex puts on year-round events at the LA fairgrounds, particularly the hugely attended Los Angeles County Fair held annually in September and the Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show that swarms with classic car aficionados seven times a year. The Winternationals drag racing competition opens the season at the NHRA Auto Club Raceway and the season closes with the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals.

Support Cal Poly student efforts at their Restaurant at Kellogg Ranch which serves locally-sourced foods or buy fantastically fresh produce at their Farm Store at Kellogg Ranch. Also, several farmers’ markets offer fresh produce throughout the year. The Downtown Pomona Certified Farmers Market takes place on the second Saturday of each month. The Pomona Valley Farmers’ Market happens every Saturday. One Saturday night each month, check out the live music, entertainment, food, and arts and crafts at revitalized downtown’s Pomona Night Out. Downtown’s Arts Colony is a mix of shops, galleries, and studios set against a backdrop of public murals and sculptures. Five times each year, you can sell, buy, barter, or just window shop at the Collectors Street Faire on Antique Row.

The city has over 20 historical landmarks and history lovers can immerse themselves in the La Casa Primera de Rancho San Jose, Ygnacio Palomares Adobe, RailGiants Train Museum, and Pomona Ebell Museum of History. Also, be sure to explore the amazing exhibits at the American Museum of Ceramic Art and the Latino Art Museum.

Pomona Economy

The top five employers are the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, Pomona Unified School District, California State Polytechnic University at Pomona, Fairplex, and Casa Colina Rehabilitation Center. Job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be very close to the U.S. average.

Pomona Cost of Living

Pomona’s overall cost of living is about 36% higher than the U.S. average but about 14% lower than the California average. Housing costs in Pomona run about 60% lower than overall California housing costs. Over the past ten years, home appreciation has been strong at about 33%. Residents also need to consider taxes when considering a city’s cost of living. Pomona’s sales tax, at 10.25%, is high compared to the 7.2% U.S. average.

Higher Education in Pomona

California State Polytechnic University at Pomona is a highly respected university that’s known for its excellent programs in engineering, architecture, and agriculture. Western University of Health Sciences is one of California’s largest health sciences universities.

Getting Around

In car-dependent Pomona, only about 3% of residents use public transportation. Foothill Transit provides the major bus service and the city has two Metrolink stations that connect west to Los Angeles and east to downtown Riverside. Often crowded, major highways and freeways run through and around Pomona, connecting the community to other areas of Southern California. With all that traffic, the average one-way commute is four minutes longer than the U.S. average. Depending on the area of town, the walk, transit, and bike scores vary considerably. However, downtown’s scores are the highest. Downtown’s walk score is 89, the transit score is 51, and the bike score is 53.