Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Bernardino, CA
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Westminster leads 14 of 22 categories
San Bernardino
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $430k less ($347,100 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $658/mo less ($1,319 vs $1,977)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Smaller class sizes — 20.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Westminster by $18,948/yr
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Westminster, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Households earn $18,948 more per year on average
More college-educated — 26.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2498.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
San Bernardino
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$430k less
$347,100 vs $777,100
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$18,948
$80,271 vs $61,323/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
51% lower
436.2 vs 897.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,319 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,323 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.1% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 197⚠ High | 116⚠ 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 | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.8% | 26.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.5% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Bernardino City Unified | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.6" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 221,041 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 31.2 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Bernardino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
San Bernardino is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Westminster leads 14 of 22 categories. San Bernardino wins 8 and Westminster wins 14. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,100 vs $777,100 median home), income ($61,323 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Bernardino, CA and Westminster, CA are about 48 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.