Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Richmond leads 15 of 23 categories
Richmond
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
San Bernardino
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323 ✓ Higher
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.
Richmond, VA
Pros
62% less violent crime than San Bernardino
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Homes cost $39k less ($308,300 vs $347,100)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than San Bernardino
Cons
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cons
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
Pricier housing — median home is $347,100
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Violent Crime
62% lower
336.9 vs 897.1 per 100k
Richmond
Median Home Value
$39k less
$308,300 vs $347,100
Richmond
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Median Income
$1,717
$61,323 vs $59,606/yr
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 89.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,319 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 | $61,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 ✓ Larger | 221,041 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 98.0 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 15 of 23 categories. Richmond 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 Richmond to San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($308,300 vs $347,100 median home), income ($59,606 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and San Bernardino, CA are about 2,226 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.