Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Cincinnati leads 14 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
San Bernardino
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($192,000 vs $347,100)
Rent averages $426/mo less ($893 vs $1,319)
6% less violent crime than San Bernardino
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
14% cheaper overall cost of living than San Bernardino
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.9%)
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails San Bernardino by $12,132/yr
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,132 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 41°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,100
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Cincinnati
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Violent Crime
6% lower
845.6 vs 897.1 per 100k
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$155k less
$192,000 vs $347,100
Cincinnati
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Median Income
$12,132
$61,323 vs $49,191/yr
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 86.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,319 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $61,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 197⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 221,041 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cincinnati leads 14 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 14 and San Bernardino wins 9. 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 Cincinnati to San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $347,100 median home), income ($49,191 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and San Bernardino, CA are about 1,840 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.