Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Carrollton leads 16 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
San Bernardino
California
7
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.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
85% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Households earn $34,057 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Rent averages $236/mo less ($1,319 vs $1,555)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $34,057/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 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Carrollton
Median Income
$34,057
$95,380 vs $61,323/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
85% lower
137.1 vs 897.1 per 100k
Carrollton
Median Home Value
$20k less
$327,300 vs $347,100
Carrollton
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, 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 | $327,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Carrollton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 16 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 16 and San Bernardino wins 7. 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 Carrollton to San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $347,100 median home), income ($95,380 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and San Bernardino, CA are about 1,175 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.