Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Bernardino, CA
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Seattle leads 12 of 23 categories
San Bernardino
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041
Seattle
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $533k less ($347,100 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $626/mo less ($1,319 vs $1,945)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $54,745/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 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $54,745 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.2%)
14% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Bernardino
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$533k less
$347,100 vs $879,900
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
18.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$54,745
$116,068 vs $61,323/yr
Seattle
Violent Crime
14% lower
775.1 vs 897.1 per 100k
Seattle
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,319 ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,323 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.1% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 197⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 236⚠ High | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.8% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.5% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Bernardino City Unified | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.6" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 221,041 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.2 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Bernardino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
San Bernardino is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Seattle leads 12 of 23 categories. San Bernardino wins 11 and Seattle wins 12. 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,100 vs $879,900 median home), income ($61,323 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Bernardino, CA and Seattle, WA are about 967 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.