Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Allen leads 15 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
San Bernardino
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
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.
Allen, TX
Pros
Households earn $59,936 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than San Bernardino
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $390,200
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Rent averages $428/mo less ($1,319 vs $1,747)
Homes cost $43k less ($347,100 vs $390,200)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $59,936/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 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Allen
Median Income
$59,936
$121,259 vs $61,323/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
88% lower
106.4 vs 897.1 per 100k
Allen
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$43k less
$347,100 vs $390,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Allen is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 15 of 23 categories. Allen wins 15 and San Bernardino wins 8. 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 Allen to San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $347,100 median home), income ($121,259 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and San Bernardino, CA are about 1,187 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.