Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Bernardino, CA
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Visalia leads 18 of 23 categories
San Bernardino
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ Larger
Visalia
California
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,658 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
141,466
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 55°F
Cons
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Visalia by $14,335/yr
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 5.6%)
Visalia, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Households earn $14,335 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 23.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $31k less ($316,600 vs $347,100)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Visalia
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 101.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Visalia
Median Income
$14,335
$75,658 vs $61,323/yr
Visalia
Violent Crime
51% lower
435.3 vs 897.1 per 100k
Visalia
Median Home Value
$31k less
$316,600 vs $347,100
Visalia
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $347,100⚠ High | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,319 | $1,289 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,323 | $75,658 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 21.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.1% | 6.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 197⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 236⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.8% | 23.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.5% | 86.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Bernardino City Unified | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 55.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.6" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 221,041 ✓ Larger | 141,466 |
| Median Age | 31.2 | 33.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% | 28.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Bernardino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Visalia is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Visalia leads 18 of 23 categories. San Bernardino wins 5 and Visalia 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,100 vs $316,600 median home), income ($61,323 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Bernardino, CA and Visalia, CA are about 190 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.