Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Bernardino, CA
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 18 of 22 categories
San Bernardino
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Rent averages $410/mo less ($1,319 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $27,143/yr
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $347,100
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
74% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Households earn $27,143 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $43k less ($304,000 vs $347,100)
More college-educated — 22.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$27,143
$88,466 vs $61,323/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
74% lower
235.7 vs 897.1 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$43k less
$304,000 vs $347,100
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 95.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $347,100⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,319 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,323 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.1% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 197⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 236⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.8% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.5% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Bernardino City Unified | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.6" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 221,041 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 31.2 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Bernardino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 18 of 22 categories. San Bernardino wins 4 and San Tan Valley wins 18. 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 Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,100 vs $304,000 median home), income ($61,323 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Bernardino, CA and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 336 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.