Rent vs buy in Pomona, CA
In Pomona, California, the typical rent is $2,319 /mo and the typical home value is $674,198.
Over 7 years, renting comes out $51k ahead.
The assumptions draw on Pomona's typical rent, its home value, today's mortgage rate and a 20% down payment. The break-even point occurs during year 12.
An opinion, clearly labeled, with math shown. These figures are estimates, not quotations. If you change a number, the stamp updates.
- Lead for renting
- $51k after 7 years
- When costs balance
- year 12 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of ownership
- Per month: $5,624 year 1, against $2,319 rent
Change my numbers
The stamp takes Pomona's typical rent and home value as inputs. For your rent, price and years, the result can flip.
Do the city's numbers differ from yours?
Enter your own rent, price and down payment details. Those figures update the stamp.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Pomona?
Over 7 years, renting costs $50,842 less, including the money you get back when you sell. For the first 11 years, you'll pay less by renting. In year 12, owning catches up.
Rent. Buy. Total net cost, year by year.
Pomona: average rent compared with mortgage payment
Rent and mortgage payments aren't the whole story. This shows every monthly expense during year 1 at Pomona's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,319 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $3,676 | $3,240 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $354 | 0.63% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $92 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $562 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $4,684 | $436 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $1,096 | Annual earnings on cash at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $281 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $5,624 | Subtract the equity part from cash out, then add the two lines above. |
The figures behind Pomona's verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $674,198
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,319 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, California, 1995 to 2025
- 5.3% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Pomona
- 0.63% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Pomona
- $92 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What would change the result in Pomona?
With everything else unchanged, each line marks where the Pomona 7-year verdict shifts.
When renting is the better choice
- California's long-run rate is 5.3%, which we use; home prices grow below 6.2% a year.
- The mortgage rate remains above 5.90%.
- For a home like this, monthly rent is under $2,860 (typical here: $2,319).
- Before year 12, you move.
When buying is the better choice
- Home prices rise by more than 6.2% each year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 5.90% (today's is 7.24%).
- If you rented the same home, the monthly cost would exceed $2,860.
- You remain there for 12 years or more.
Pomona compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Pomona | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $674,198 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,319 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 24.2 (#160 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.7% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 4.6% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.63% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 46% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in California
- Renting wins. Los Angeles, CA. The advantage is $111k.
- Renting wins. San Diego, CA. The advantage is $108k.
- Renting wins. San Jose, CA. The advantage is $210k.
- Renting wins. San Francisco, CA. The advantage is $128k.
- Buying wins. Fresno, CA. The advantage is $22k.
- Too close to call. Sacramento, CA. Renting has a $3k lead.
- Renting wins. Long Beach, CA. The advantage is $111k.
- Renting wins. Oakland, CA. The advantage is $44k.
- Buying wins. Bakersfield, CA. The advantage is $11k.
- Renting wins. Anaheim, CA. The advantage is $115k.
- Buying wins. Stockton, CA. The advantage is $16k.
- Renting wins. Riverside, CA. The advantage is $27k.