Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 San Bernardino leads 12 of 22 categories
Berkeley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,385
San Bernardino
California
12
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.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,393 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
29% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $933k less ($347,100 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $748/mo less ($1,319 vs $2,067)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $43,393/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 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$43,393
$104,716 vs $61,323/yr
Berkeley
Violent Crime
29% lower
638.8 vs 897.1 per 100k
Berkeley
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$933k less
$347,100 vs $1,280,300
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
21.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 197⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
San Bernardino is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Bernardino leads 12 of 22 categories. Berkeley wins 10 and San Bernardino wins 12. 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 Berkeley to San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $347,100 median home), income ($104,716 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and San Bernardino, CA are about 380 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.