Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Denver leads 14 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
San Bernardino
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
221,041
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $24,530 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($347,100 vs $540,400)
10% less violent crime than Denver
Rent averages $346/mo less ($1,319 vs $1,665)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $24,530/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 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Income
$24,530
$85,853 vs $61,323/yr
Denver
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Violent Crime
10% lower
897.1 vs 993.0 per 100k
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$193k less
$347,100 vs $540,400
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 197⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 236⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 21.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 221,041 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Denver is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 14 of 23 categories. Denver 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 Denver to San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $347,100 median home), income ($85,853 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and San Bernardino, CA are about 787 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.