Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Bernardino, CA
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale 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
Scottsdale
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $305k less ($347,100 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $449/mo less ($1,319 vs $1,768)
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $42,874/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 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $42,874 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than San Bernardino
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$305k less
$347,100 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Median Income
$42,874
$104,197 vs $61,323/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
83% lower
152.5 vs 897.1 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.6% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 95.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,319 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,323 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.1% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 197⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 236⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.8% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.5% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Bernardino City Unified | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 63.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.6" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 221,041 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.2 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Bernardino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 18 of 22 categories. San Bernardino wins 4 and Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,100 vs $651,800 median home), income ($61,323 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Bernardino, CA and Scottsdale, AZ are about 313 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.