Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Bernardino, CA
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 18 of 23 categories
San Bernardino
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041
Tucson
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Households earn $9,274 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,100
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Tucson
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($218,200 vs $347,100)
34% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Rent averages $328/mo less ($991 vs $1,319)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.5%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than San Bernardino
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails San Bernardino by $9,274/yr
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
San Bernardino
Median Income
$9,274
$61,323 vs $52,049/yr
Tucson
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Violent Crime
34% lower
588.8 vs 897.1 per 100k
Tucson
Median Home Value
$129k less
$218,200 vs $347,100
Tucson
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.6% unemployment
Tucson
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 95.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $347,100⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,319 | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,323 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.1% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 197⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 236⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.8% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.5% | 86.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Bernardino City Unified | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 66.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.6" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 221,041 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.2 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Bernardino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 18 of 23 categories. San Bernardino wins 5 and Tucson 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,100 vs $218,200 median home), income ($61,323 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Bernardino, CA and Tucson, AZ are about 396 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.