Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rialto, CA
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 9 categories each
Rialto
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
103,873
San Bernardino
California
9
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.
Rialto, CA
Pros
28% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Households earn $19,427 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 7.6%)
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($347,100 vs $418,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (7.6%)
Rent averages $234/mo less ($1,319 vs $1,553)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 20.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Rialto by $19,427/yr
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Rialto
Median Income
$19,427
$80,750 vs $61,323/yr
Rialto
Violent Crime
28% lower
641.7 vs 897.1 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 107.9 on the COL index
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$71k less
$347,100 vs $418,300
San Bernardino
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
7.6% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rialto, 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 | $418,300⚠ High | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,553⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,750 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.3% | 12.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rialto Unified | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 21.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,873 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.2 | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rialto'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 18 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 9 categories each. Rialto wins 9 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 Rialto to San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($418,300 vs $347,100 median home), income ($80,750 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rialto, CA and San Bernardino, CA are about 6 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.