Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indio, CA
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Indio leads 15 of 21 categories
Indio
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,436 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
89,616
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.
Indio, CA
Pros
63% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,113 more per year on average
More college-educated — 19.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Pricier housing — median home is $373,200
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 106°F
Homes cost $26k less ($347,100 vs $373,200)
Smaller class sizes — 20.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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
Median income trails Indio by $7,113/yr
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Indio
Median Income
$7,113
$68,436 vs $61,323/yr
Indio
Violent Crime
63% lower
336.2 vs 897.1 per 100k
Indio
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 95.4°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 107.9 on the COL index
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$26k less
$347,100 vs $373,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indio, CA | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $373,200⚠ High | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,344⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,436 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 5.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 77.4% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Desert Sands Unified | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer | 95.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 2.9" ✓ Drier | 21.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,616 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.3% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.2% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indio's cost of living index is 107.9 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Indio leads 15 of 21 categories. Indio wins 15 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 Indio to San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($373,200 vs $347,100 median home), income ($68,436 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indio, CA and San Bernardino, CA are about 67 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.