San Bernardino CA vs San Francisco CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
San Bernardino, CA
California · Population: 221,774
- Median HH Income$63,988
- Median Home Price$492,059
- Unemployment6.5%
- Bachelor's+12.8%
San Francisco, CA
California · Population: 836,321
- Median HH Income$141,446
- Median Home Price$1,369,171
- Unemployment5.6%
- Bachelor's+60.1%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
San Bernardino
221,774
San Francisco
836,321
San Francisco +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
San Bernardino
N/A
San Francisco
N/A
Median Age
San Bernardino
31.9
San Bernardino +
San Francisco
39.7
Foreign Born
San Bernardino
22.9%
San Francisco
34.2%
San Francisco +
White
San Bernardino
27.6%
San Francisco
40.5%
San Francisco +
Black
San Bernardino
11.8%
San Bernardino +
San Francisco
5.1%
Asian
San Bernardino
4.1%
San Francisco
35.0%
San Francisco +
Hispanic
San Bernardino
69.6%
San Bernardino +
San Francisco
15.9%
Spanish at Home
San Bernardino
N/A
San Francisco
N/A
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 221,774 | 836,321 | San Francisco + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 39.7 | San Bernardino + |
| Foreign Born | 22.9% | 34.2% | San Francisco + |
| White | 27.6% | 40.5% | San Francisco + |
| Black | 11.8% | 5.1% | San Bernardino + |
| Asian | 4.1% | 35.0% | San Francisco + |
| Hispanic | 69.6% | 15.9% | San Bernardino + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
San Bernardino
$63,988
San Francisco
$141,446
San Francisco +
Per Capita Income
San Bernardino
$23,980
San Francisco
$90,285
San Francisco +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
San Bernardino
$77,230
San Francisco
$77,230
Tie
Unemployment Rate
San Bernardino
6.5%
San Francisco
5.6%
San Francisco +
Poverty Rate
San Bernardino
19.5%
San Francisco
10.6%
San Francisco +
Bachelor's Degree+
San Bernardino
12.8%
San Francisco
60.1%
San Francisco +
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $63,988 | $141,446 | San Francisco + |
| Per Capita Income | $23,980 | $90,285 | San Francisco + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $77,230 | $77,230 | Tie |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5% | 5.6% | San Francisco + |
| Poverty Rate | 19.5% | 10.6% | San Francisco + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 12.8% | 60.1% | San Francisco + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
San Bernardino
$492,059
San Bernardino +
San Francisco
$1,369,171
Homeownership Rate
San Bernardino
48.5%
San Bernardino +
San Francisco
38.5%
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $492,059 | $1,369,171 | San Bernardino + |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.5% | 38.5% | San Bernardino + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
San Bernardino
503
San Francisco
503
Tie
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
San Bernardino
2388
San Francisco
2388
Tie
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 503 | 503 | Tie |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2388 | 2388 | Tie |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
San Bernardino
37.1%
San Francisco
17.5%
San Francisco +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
San Bernardino
13.6%
San Francisco
9.7%
San Francisco +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
San Bernardino
20.0%
San Francisco
14.5%
San Francisco +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
San Bernardino
20.2%
San Francisco
6.6%
San Francisco +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
San Bernardino
15.2%
San Bernardino +
San Francisco
19.6%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
San Bernardino
15.1%
San Francisco
9.1%
San Francisco +
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 37.1% | 17.5% | San Francisco + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 13.6% | 9.7% | San Francisco + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 20.0% | 14.5% | San Francisco + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 20.2% | 6.6% | San Francisco + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.2% | 19.6% | San Bernardino + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 15.1% | 9.1% | San Francisco + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
San Bernardino
N/A
San Francisco
55.3°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
San Bernardino
N/A
San Francisco
20.7 in
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | 55.3°F | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | 20.7 in | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
San Bernardino
7.9 µg/m³
San Francisco
7.9 µg/m³
Tie
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
San Bernardino
75.0%
San Francisco
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.9 µg/m³ | 7.9 µg/m³ | Tie |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
San Bernardino
30.7 min
San Bernardino +
San Francisco
33.9 min
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 30.7 min | 33.9 min | San Bernardino + |
Which City is Right for You?
San Francisco leads in median household income at $141,446, while san Bernardino offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $492,059. On public safety, San Francisco is safer with a violent crime rate of 503 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in San Bernardino. San Francisco has a lower unemployment rate at 5.6%, and San Francisco has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, San Francisco scores better with a lower obesity rate of 17.5%.
Compare More Cities
New York, NY vs San Bernardino, CALos Angeles, CA vs San Bernardino, CAChicago, IL vs San Bernardino, CAHouston, TX vs San Bernardino, CAPhoenix, AZ vs San Bernardino, CAPhiladelphia, PA vs San Bernardino, CA