Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richardson, TX
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories
Richardson
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
San Bernardino
California
8
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.
Richardson, TX
Pros
84% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Households earn $33,039 more per year on average
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Rent averages $406/mo less ($1,319 vs $1,725)
Homes cost $33k less ($347,100 vs $379,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $33,039/yr
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
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Median Income
$33,039
$94,362 vs $61,323/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
84% lower
146.7 vs 897.1 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$33k less
$347,100 vs $379,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richardson, TX | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $379,800⚠ High | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,725⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,362 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.7% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ 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 | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | RICHARDSON ISD | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.1" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 118,063 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richardson's cost of living index is 103.3 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories. Richardson wins 15 and San Bernardino wins 8. 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 Richardson to San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,800 vs $347,100 median home), income ($94,362 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richardson, TX and San Bernardino, CA are about 1,186 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.