Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Bernardino, CA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 San Bernardino leads 13 of 23 categories
San Bernardino
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
221,041
Washington
District of Columbia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $358k less ($347,100 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $498/mo less ($1,319 vs $1,817)
3% less violent crime than Washington
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $40,399/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
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $40,399 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (7.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
San Bernardino
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
San Bernardino
Violent Crime
3% lower
897.1 vs 925.9 per 100k
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$358k less
$347,100 vs $705,000
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 89.8°F
Washington
Median Income
$40,399
$101,722 vs $61,323/yr
Washington
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
7.1% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,319 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,323 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.1% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 197⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 236⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.8% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.5% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Bernardino City Unified | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.6" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 221,041 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.2 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Bernardino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
San Bernardino is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Bernardino leads 13 of 23 categories. San Bernardino wins 13 and Washington wins 10. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,100 vs $705,000 median home), income ($61,323 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Bernardino, CA and Washington, DC are about 2,242 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.