Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Buckeye leads 17 of 22 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
San Bernardino
California
5
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.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
81% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Households earn $32,865 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 22.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than San Bernardino
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Rent averages $278/mo less ($1,319 vs $1,597)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 107°F
Cons
Median income trails Buckeye by $32,865/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 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Median Income
$32,865
$94,188 vs $61,323/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
81% lower
166.8 vs 897.1 per 100k
Buckeye
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.6% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 95.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | C (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 95.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 21.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 27.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 17 of 22 categories. Buckeye wins 17 and San Bernardino wins 5. 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 Buckeye to San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $347,100 median home), income ($94,188 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and San Bernardino, CA are about 272 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.