Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Bernardino, CA
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 St. Louis leads 13 of 23 categories
San Bernardino
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
221,041
St. Louis
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
34% less violent crime than St. Louis
Households earn $8,382 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 41°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,100
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
Cost of living runs 12% higher than St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $173k less ($174,100 vs $347,100)
Rent averages $381/mo less ($938 vs $1,319)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than San Bernardino
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails San Bernardino by $8,382/yr
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
San Bernardino
Median Income
$8,382
$61,323 vs $52,941/yr
San Bernardino
Violent Crime
34% lower
897.1 vs 1367.1 per 100k
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 89.6°F
St. Louis
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$173k less
$174,100 vs $347,100
St. Louis
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $347,100⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,319 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,323 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.1% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 197⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 236⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.8% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.5% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Bernardino City Unified | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.6" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 221,041 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.2 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Bernardino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
St. Louis is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 13 of 23 categories. San Bernardino wins 10 and St. Louis 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,100 vs $174,100 median home), income ($61,323 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Bernardino, CA and St. Louis, MO are about 1,530 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.