Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Denton leads 17 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
San Bernardino
California
6
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.
Denton, TX
Pros
77% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $10,598 more per year on average
Homes cost $51k less ($296,100 vs $347,100)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Cons
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Denton by $10,598/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $347,100
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Median Income
$10,598
$71,921 vs $61,323/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
77% lower
204.2 vs 897.1 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$51k less
$296,100 vs $347,100
Denton
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, 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 | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,319 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 95.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 31.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Denton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 17 of 23 categories. Denton wins 17 and San Bernardino wins 6. 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 Denton to San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $347,100 median home), income ($71,921 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and San Bernardino, CA are about 1,159 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.