Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Carlsbad leads 13 of 21 categories
Carlsbad
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
San Bernardino
California
8
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.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $72,816 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than San Bernardino
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $723k less ($347,100 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1158/mo less ($1,319 vs $2,477)
Smaller class sizes — 20.5:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $72,816/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 6.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$72,816
$134,139 vs $61,323/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
78% lower
199.1 vs 897.1 per 100k
Carlsbad
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.0% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$723k less
$347,100 vs $1,070,500
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
21.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 21.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
San Bernardino is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 13 of 21 categories. Carlsbad wins 13 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 Carlsbad to San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $347,100 median home), income ($134,139 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and San Bernardino, CA are about 70 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.