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Latino Majority, Asian Presence, and a Multigenerational Mix

Around 70% of the population is Hispanic or Latino, with strong Mexican and Salvadoran roots; Asian and Black residents complete the mosaic, with many foreign-born residents.

Pomona is predominantly Hispanic, with a dominant Mexican heritage, large Central American communities (especially Salvadoran and Guatemalan), and a growing presence of more recently arrived families. Around 35% of residents were born outside the United States, a high figure even for Southern California.

The Asian community is diverse: Filipinos, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Koreans, many arriving via Orange County and the San Gabriel Valley. There is also an established Black American population in the southern part of the city and pockets of Southeast Asian immigrants connected to the university campuses.

Pomona is a young city, with a median age close to 31, pulled down by Cal Poly Pomona and Western University students. Multigenerational families sharing a single home are common, a typical pattern in the Inland Empire.

147,125

Population

31 yrs

Median age

$71,000

Median income

per year

Urban population95.0%

Foreign-born32.0%

Languages spoken

English
Spanish
Tagalog
Vietnamese
Mandarin

Main religions

Catholicism
Evangelical Protestantism
Pentecostal Christianity
Buddhism
No religion

Cheaper Than LA, More Expensive Than the Rest of the Country

Pomona is one of the more affordable options within Los Angeles County, though it still sits above the national average in housing, food, and taxes.

Those moving from abroad often find Pomona expensive at first, but a comparison with Santa Monica, Pasadena, or Long Beach reveals the difference. Rent, groceries, and gas are lower than on the Westside, but everything is priced in dollars and follows California's inflation.

Markets such as Vallarta, Northgate, and Superior keep produce prices down, and there are weekly farmers markets. Eating out at neighborhood taquerias is inexpensive; prices rise quickly at downtown restaurants. Summer electricity bills are high due to air conditioning, common throughout the Inland Empire.

The combined sales tax exceeds 10%, and property taxes follow California's Proposition 13 rules. Health care and car insurance are the quiet budget drains, especially for those without employer-sponsored coverage.

112Cost index (US = 100)12% above US average

Category	Single	Couple	Family (2 + 2)
iHousing	$1,850	$2,300	$2,900
iFood	$490	$840	$1,340
iTransport	$330	$540	$760
iHealthcare	$240	$440	$740
iChildcare	—	—	$2,200
iOther	$360	$660	$970
Monthly total	$3,270	$4,780	$8,910

Neighborhood Homes, Low-Rise Buildings, and University Pockets

The housing stock is dominated by single-family homes and duplexes; rent is lower than in neighboring cities, though buying still requires a substantial down payment by American standards.

The northern part of the city, near Cal Poly Pomona and the Phillips Ranch neighborhood, concentrates newer homes, planned condominiums, and townhouses. Lincoln Park and downtown have historic 1920s houses, some restored, others in need of renovation. South Pomona has more modest homes and lower rents.

One-bedroom apartment rents are well below the LA average, and full three-bedroom houses are accessible by California standards. Many residents share homes, a common practice among students and newcomers. The city offers affordable housing programs.

Buying requires established American credit, a 10-20% down payment, and documented income. Recent immigrants typically rent for two to three years before attempting to finance a purchase.

Purchase price (m²)

Center$5,600/m²
Outside$4,600/m²

9.0×

Price-to-income

6.9%

Mortgage rate (20y)

Recommended neighborhoods

Phillips Ranch
Lincoln Park
Westmont
Ganesha Hills
Downtown Arts Colony
+1 more

Education, Healthcare, Logistics, and Manufacturing in the Mix

Pomona's economy relies on universities, hospitals, retail, Inland Empire logistics warehouses, and light manufacturing; wages are average for the region.

The largest employers are Cal Poly Pomona, Western University of Health Sciences, and Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. Surrounding public schools in the PUSD and Mt. San Antonio College generate thousands of positions in education and administration.

The Inland Empire is the heart of U.S. logistics, and Pomona absorbs part of that market through warehouses, distribution, and transportation. Light manufacturing, food production, and industrial design firms round out the ecosystem. Many small Latino-owned businesses operate in construction, restaurants, and automotive services.

Technology or finance professionals typically commute to downtown LA, Pasadena, or Irvine. Those working in healthcare, education, or skilled trades find robust local opportunities.

$4,100

Avg net salary

per month

$2,800

Minimum wage

per month

4.0%

Unemployment

62.5%

Labor force

Dominant sectors

Higher Education
Healthcare
Logistics and Distribution
Light Manufacturing
Retail
+1 more

Major employers

Cal Poly Pomona
Western University of Health Sciences
Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center
Pomona Unified School District
Mt. San Antonio College
+2 more

Cal Poly Pomona Anchors the City's Academic Life

Pomona is home to one of the largest polytechnic universities in the western United States, a respected health sciences university, and a public school system serving more than 20,000 students.

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) is the academic heart, with around 30,000 students and strong programs in engineering, architecture, urban agriculture, and hospitality. The campus spans 700 acres in the northern part of the city.

Western University of Health Sciences trains physicians, dentists, veterinarians, and pharmacists at the graduate level, drawing students from across the country. Nearby, Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC), in Walnut, is one of California's highest-rated community colleges and serves many Pomona residents.

Pomona Unified School District operates K-12 public schools with bilingual programs, arts magnets, and partnerships with Cal Poly. Charter and Catholic schools also serve the community.

Literacy99.0%

Tertiary education50.0%

478

PISA score (avg)

$12,000

Private school

per year

Notable universities

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona)
Western University of Health Sciences
Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC)
DeVry University Pomona

Large Regional Hospitals and a Network of Community Clinics

The city has two major hospitals and several community clinics offering services in Spanish; health insurance functions as it does elsewhere in the U.S.

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center is the main trauma and maternity center for the eastern part of the county, with around 450 beds. Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare is a reference for neurological and orthopedic rehabilitation.

The presence of Western University brings teaching clinics in dentistry, optometry, and osteopathic medicine, with subsidized care. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) such as Parktree Community Health Center serve uninsured residents on a sliding income scale.

Undocumented immigrants have access to emergency hospital care (federal EMTALA law) and, for those under 26 and over 50, full Medi-Cal coverage. For others, the most common path is a combination of community clinics and employer-provided insurance.

Healthcare index60.0 / 100

Life expectancyyears at birth
78.0yrs
Doctors per 1kpracticing physicians
2.7
Health spendper capita, per year
$12,000
Public systemoverall quality rating
Fair

A Working-Class City with Highly Varied Neighborhoods

Pomona has crime rates above the national average, but concentrated in specific areas; family neighborhoods to the north and west are safe and quiet.

Pomona's historical reputation is harsher than its current reality. Violent crime has dropped significantly over the past two decades, but the city still ranks above the American average for vehicle theft and robbery. Distribution varies greatly between neighborhoods.

The north (Phillips Ranch, Ganesha Hills, Westmont) and the Cal Poly area are calm, with active community watch programs. Downtown sees constant patrols because of events at the Fox Theater and nearby restaurants. The south, around Holt Avenue, has higher rates of opportunistic crime.

Practical recommendations apply to any Southern California city: never leave anything visible in a parked car, stay alert in late-night parking areas, and use good judgment when choosing where to walk after dark.

6.0

Homicides per 100k

per year

Safety index

44.0

Crime index

56.0

Safer neighborhoods

Phillips Ranch
Ganesha Hills
Westmont
Diamond Ranch
Historic Lincoln Park
Cal Poly Pomona campus area

Areas to avoid

Holt Avenue stretch at night
South Mission Boulevard after dark
Isolated industrial areas in the far south

Cars Rule, but Metrolink and Buses Fill the Gap

Pomona is crossed by three freeways and has two Metrolink stations, though daily life still requires a car, especially for those working outside the city.

The city sits at the intersection of interstates 10, 60, and 57, providing easy access to Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange County, and San Bernardino. The downside is heavy rush-hour traffic, typical of Southern California.

For those working in downtown LA, the Metrolink San Bernardino Line stops at Pomona Downtown and Pomona North stations, with trips of about 50 minutes to Union Station. The Foothill Transit system covers the valley with local lines and the Silver Streak express bus.

Cycling is feasible in some flat areas and there are scattered bike lanes, but infrastructure is limited. The nearest international airport is LAX, with Ontario (ONT) much closer and more convenient for domestic flights and travel to Mexico.

Metro stations

33 min

Avg commute

Walkability

Airports

ONT - Ontario International (20 min away)
LAX - Los Angeles International (60 min away)
BUR - Hollywood Burbank (50 min away)
SNA - John Wayne Orange County (60 min away)

Bike infrastructure

Living with the climate in Pomona

Interior Mediterranean of Greater Los Angeles: long, hot, dry summers with highs near 33 degrees. Short, mild winters with concentrated rainfall.

Summer in Pomona runs from June through October with highs between 30 and 35 degrees and dry air. Nights drop to around 16 degrees, which helps. Air conditioning is an essential part of the home and the electricity bill weighs heavily from July through September.

Winter is short and mild. Lows stay between 5 and 8 degrees and highs between 18 and 21 degrees. Heating is used for a few weeks, light frost occurs on a few mornings, snow does not fall. January can bring days with a high of 23 degrees.

Rain concentrates between December and March, totaling 400 to 450 mm per year. Autumn brings Santa Ana winds, warm and dry, with fire risk in the hills. For daily life this means light clothing for most of the year, a light jacket in winter and sunglasses always within reach.

Sunny days / year280 days

Avg high (°F)

75°J
75°F
79°M
91°A
90°M
102°J
103°J
107°A
105°S
96°O
86°N
79°D

Avg low (°F)

31°J
30°F
33°M
38°A
44°M
49°J
55°J
59°A
53°S
44°O
38°N
33°D

Rainfall (")

Arts Colony, Lowriders, and a Packed Calendar at the Fairplex

The cultural scene blends Chicano heritage, indie art in the restored downtown, and the massive Fairplex, which hosts the county fair and events year-round.

Downtown features the Arts Colony district, with galleries, studios, and the historic Fox Theater Pomona, a venue for hip-hop, rock, and Latin music. The second Thursday of each month brings the Art Walk, with open shops and food trucks.

The Fairplex hosts the Los Angeles County Fair in September, one of the largest state fairs in the country, along with horse racing, exhibitions, and concerts. The city also has a strong lowrider culture, Mexican-American festivals, and Dia de los Muertos celebrations.

The dining scene reflects the demographics: authentic taquerias, mariscos, Salvadoran food (pupusas), Filipino, Vietnamese, and Korean barbecue. The American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA) is a little-known gem in downtown.

Major museums

Notable dishes

Adobada tacos
Salvadoran pupusas
Birria
Filipino lumpia
Vietnamese pho
+3 more

Annual events

Los Angeles County Fair (Fairplex)
Pomona Art Walk
Dia de los Muertos in downtown
Cinco de Mayo
NHRA Winternationals
+2 more

Fairplex, Arts Colony, Museums, and Trails on the Horizon

Attractions range from the massive county fair to downtown art galleries and regional parks in the hills, all within a short drive.

The Fairplex is the city's best-known landmark, hosting the Los Angeles County Fair in September, the racetrack, the Auto Club Raceway (NHRA), and exhibitions throughout the year. In downtown, the restored Fox Theater Pomona draws major music acts and is surrounded by the Arts Colony.

The American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA) is a western U.S. reference for ceramic art. The Kellogg House, the historic mansion of the Kellogg's founder on the Cal Poly campus, and the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum appeal to local history and motorsports enthusiasts.

For nature, Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas, with a lake and trails, is 10 minutes away. Mt. Baldy, with skiing in winter and hiking in summer, is 40 minutes out.

1Fairplex and LA County Fair
2Fox Theater Pomona
3Pomona Arts Colony
4American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA)
5Kellogg House
6Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum

Nightlife4.0 / 10

Parks & green spaces

Ganesha Park
Washington Park
Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park (nearby)
Phillips Ranch trails
Bonelli Park lake
+1 more

Latino, Asian, and Recent Immigrant Mosaic

Pomona has around one-third of its population born outside the U.S., with a strong Mexican, Central American, and Asian presence, along with smaller communities from various origins.

The city has historically been a destination for immigrants from Mexico, with neighborhoods, markets, churches, and traditions rooted for generations. Central American immigration grew from the 1980s onward, especially from El Salvador and Guatemala, with a visible presence in parishes, restaurants, and local soccer leagues.

The Asian community is led by Filipinos and Vietnamese, with significant arrivals of Chinese and Koreans via the San Gabriel Valley. International students at Cal Poly and Western University bring Indian, Nigerian, Brazilian, and other nationalities in continuous circulation.

Support for newcomers comes from regional nonprofits, Catholic parishes, FQHCs, and the city's Hispanic affairs office. English as a Second Language classes are offered by Mt. SAC and the adult education district.

51,000

Foreign-born residents

estimated

Top countries of origin

Mexico
El Salvador
Guatemala
Philippines
Vietnam
China
South Korea
Honduras

Foreign consulates

Mexican Consulate General in Los Angeles
Salvadoran Consulate General in Los Angeles
Guatemalan Consulate General in Los Angeles
Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles
Vietnamese Consulate General in Los Angeles
+2 more

Community organizations

Catholic Charities of Los Angeles
Pomona Economic Opportunity Center (day laborers)
Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Collective
Hispanic Federation Southern California
Mt. SAC Adult Education ESL
Pomona Public Library New Americans program

Immigration programs

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