Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Houston leads 13 of 22 categories
Houston
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
San Bernardino
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323 ✓ Higher
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.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $112k less ($235,000 vs $347,100)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.6%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than San Bernardino
Rent averages $84/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,319)
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Houston
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,100
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 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$112k less
$235,000 vs $347,100
Houston
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Median Income
$883
$61,323 vs $60,440/yr
San Bernardino
Violent Crime
22% lower
897.1 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,319 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $61,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 197⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 236⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ 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 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 221,041 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Houston is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Houston leads 13 of 22 categories. Houston wins 13 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 Houston to San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $347,100 median home), income ($60,440 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and San Bernardino, CA are about 1,316 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.