Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Bernardino, CA
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 15 of 22 categories
San Bernardino
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ Larger
Simi Valley
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $357k less ($347,100 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $1083/mo less ($1,319 vs $2,402)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $50,821/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 4.4%)
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,821 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 36.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than San Bernardino
Key Differences at a Glance
San Bernardino
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$357k less
$347,100 vs $704,200
Simi Valley
Median Income
$50,821
$112,144 vs $61,323/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
86% lower
129.1 vs 897.1 per 100k
Simi Valley
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,319 ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,323 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 28.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.1% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 197⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 236⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.8% | 36.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.5% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Bernardino City Unified | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 95.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.6" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 221,041 ✓ Larger | 126,153 |
| Median Age | 31.2 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Bernardino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
San Bernardino is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 15 of 22 categories. San Bernardino wins 7 and Simi Valley wins 15. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,100 vs $704,200 median home), income ($61,323 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Bernardino, CA and Simi Valley, CA are about 84 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.