Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Raleigh, NC
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Raleigh leads 17 of 23 categories
Raleigh
North Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Raleigh, NC
Pros
46% less violent crime than San Bernardino
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.5%)
Households earn $17,308 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than San Bernardino
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 52°F
Cons
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Raleigh by $17,308/yr
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 4.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Raleigh
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Income
$17,308
$78,631 vs $61,323/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
46% lower
488.8 vs 897.1 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $347,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,371⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,631 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.1% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.7% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.1" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 465,517 ✓ Larger | 221,041 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.1% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Raleigh's cost of living index is 98.0 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 17 of 23 categories. Raleigh wins 17 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 Raleigh to San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,000 vs $347,100 median home), income ($78,631 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Raleigh, NC and San Bernardino, CA are about 2,177 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.