Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Bernardino, CA
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 13 of 21 categories
San Bernardino
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $1162k less ($347,100 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1652/mo less ($1,319 vs $2,971)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $87,829/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 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $87,829 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than San Bernardino
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than San Bernardino
Key Differences at a Glance
San Bernardino
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$1162k less
$347,100 vs $1,508,900
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
22.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$87,829
$149,152 vs $61,323/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
73% lower
243.2 vs 897.1 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,319 ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,323 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.1% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 197⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 236⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.8% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.5% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Bernardino City Unified | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 58.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.6" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 221,041 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 31.2 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Bernardino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
San Bernardino is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 13 of 21 categories. San Bernardino wins 8 and San Mateo wins 13. 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 San Bernardino to San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,100 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($61,323 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Bernardino, CA and San Mateo, CA are about 367 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.