Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Coast, FL
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Palm Coast leads 13 of 19 categories
Palm Coast
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,824 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
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.
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.1%)
Homes cost $64k less ($283,300 vs $347,100)
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,501 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,621/mo
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Rent averages $302/mo less ($1,319 vs $1,621)
Cons
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $347,100
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Palm Coast by $7,501/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Coast
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Palm Coast
Median Income
$7,501
$68,824 vs $61,323/yr
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$64k less
$283,300 vs $347,100
Palm Coast
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 87.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Coast, FL | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $283,300 ✓ Lower | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,621⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,824 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FLAGLER | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,082 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 50.3 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.9% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 29.5% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Coast's cost of living index is 104.5 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Palm Coast is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 13 of 19 categories. Palm Coast wins 13 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 Palm Coast to San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,300 vs $347,100 median home), income ($68,824 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Coast, FL and San Bernardino, CA are about 2,129 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.