Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Arden-Arcade leads 12 of 22 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,076
San Bernardino
California
10
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.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
42% less violent crime than San Bernardino
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Households earn $3,156 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($347,100 vs $466,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (7.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Smaller class sizes — 20.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Median income trails Arden-Arcade by $3,156/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Median Income
$3,156
$64,479 vs $61,323/yr
Arden-Arcade
Violent Crime
42% lower
518.1 vs 897.1 per 100k
San Bernardino
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$119k less
$347,100 vs $466,300
San Bernardino
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
7.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 21.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
San Bernardino is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arden-Arcade leads 12 of 22 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 12 and San Bernardino wins 10. 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 Arden-Arcade to San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $347,100 median home), income ($64,479 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and San Bernardino, CA are about 383 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.