Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 McAllen leads 19 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
San Bernardino
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323 ✓ Higher
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.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $188k less ($158,700 vs $347,100)
83% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Rent averages $364/mo less ($955 vs $1,319)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than San Bernardino
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails San Bernardino by $4,997/yr
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Households earn $4,997 more per year on average
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 22% higher than McAllen
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
83% lower
150.0 vs 897.1 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$188k less
$158,700 vs $347,100
McAllen
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Median Income
$4,997
$61,323 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,319 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $61,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 95.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 27.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 19 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 19 and San Bernardino wins 4. 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 McAllen to San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $347,100 median home), income ($56,326 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and San Bernardino, CA are about 1,260 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.