Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Alexandria leads 12 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
San Bernardino
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $51,856 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than San Bernardino
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $309k less ($347,100 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $664/mo less ($1,319 vs $1,983)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $51,856/yr
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$51,856
$113,179 vs $61,323/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
76% lower
219.1 vs 897.1 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$309k less
$347,100 vs $655,700
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
San Bernardino is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 12 and San Bernardino wins 11. 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 Alexandria to San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $347,100 median home), income ($113,179 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and San Bernardino, CA are about 2,239 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.