San Bernardino CA vs Winston-Salem NC — 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%

Winston-Salem, NC

North Carolina · Population: 118,578

Median HH Income$63,900
Median Home Price$265,013
Unemployment4.6%
Bachelor's+45.8%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

San Bernardino

221,774

San Bernardino +

Winston-Salem

118,578

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

San Bernardino

N/A

Winston-Salem

N/A

Median Age

San Bernardino

31.9

San Bernardino +

Winston-Salem

37.5

Foreign Born

San Bernardino

22.9%

San Bernardino +

Winston-Salem

5.7%

White

San Bernardino

27.6%

Winston-Salem

72.9%

Winston-Salem +

Black

San Bernardino

11.8%

Winston-Salem

14.9%

Winston-Salem +

Asian

San Bernardino

4.1%

San Bernardino +

Winston-Salem

1.3%

Hispanic

San Bernardino

69.6%

San Bernardino +

Winston-Salem

8.9%

Spanish at Home

San Bernardino

N/A

Winston-Salem

N/A

Metric	San Bernardino, CA	Winston-Salem, NC	Better
Population	221,774	118,578	San Bernardino +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	31.9	37.5	San Bernardino +
Foreign Born	22.9%	5.7%	San Bernardino +
White	27.6%	72.9%	Winston-Salem +
Black	11.8%	14.9%	Winston-Salem +
Asian	4.1%	1.3%	San Bernardino +
Hispanic	69.6%	8.9%	San Bernardino +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

San Bernardino

$63,988

San Bernardino +

Winston-Salem

$63,900

Per Capita Income

San Bernardino

$23,980

Winston-Salem

$46,062

Winston-Salem +

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

San Bernardino

$77,230

San Bernardino +

Winston-Salem

$59,120

Unemployment Rate

San Bernardino

6.5%

Winston-Salem

4.6%

Winston-Salem +

Poverty Rate

San Bernardino

19.5%

Winston-Salem

16.3%

Winston-Salem +

Bachelor's Degree+

San Bernardino

12.8%

Winston-Salem

45.8%

Winston-Salem +

Metric	San Bernardino, CA	Winston-Salem, NC	Better
Median HH Income	$63,988	$63,900	San Bernardino +
Per Capita Income	$23,980	$46,062	Winston-Salem +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$77,230	$59,120	San Bernardino +
Unemployment Rate	6.5%	4.6%	Winston-Salem +
Poverty Rate	19.5%	16.3%	Winston-Salem +
Bachelor's Degree+	12.8%	45.8%	Winston-Salem +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

San Bernardino

$492,059

Winston-Salem

$265,013

Winston-Salem +

Homeownership Rate

San Bernardino

48.5%

San Bernardino +

Winston-Salem

46.8%

Metric	San Bernardino, CA	Winston-Salem, NC	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$492,059	$265,013	Winston-Salem +
Homeownership Rate	48.5%	46.8%	San Bernardino +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

San Bernardino

503

Winston-Salem

398

Winston-Salem +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

San Bernardino

2388

Winston-Salem

1999

Winston-Salem +

Metric	San Bernardino, CA	Winston-Salem, NC	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	503	398	Winston-Salem +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2388	1999	Winston-Salem +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

San Bernardino

37.1%

San Bernardino +

Winston-Salem

42.7%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

San Bernardino

13.6%

Winston-Salem

13.1%

Winston-Salem +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

San Bernardino

20.0%

Winston-Salem

17.4%

Winston-Salem +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

San Bernardino

20.2%

Winston-Salem

12.8%

Winston-Salem +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

San Bernardino

15.2%

Winston-Salem

14.4%

Winston-Salem +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

San Bernardino

15.1%

Winston-Salem

14.4%

Winston-Salem +

Metric	San Bernardino, CA	Winston-Salem, NC	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	37.1%	42.7%	San Bernardino +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	13.6%	13.1%	Winston-Salem +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	20.0%	17.4%	Winston-Salem +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	20.2%	12.8%	Winston-Salem +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.2%	14.4%	Winston-Salem +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	15.1%	14.4%	Winston-Salem +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

San Bernardino

N/A

Winston-Salem

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

San Bernardino

N/A

Winston-Salem

N/A

Metric	San Bernardino, CA	Winston-Salem, NC	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	N/A	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

San Bernardino

7.9 µg/m³

San Bernardino +

Winston-Salem

8.7 µg/m³

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

San Bernardino

75.0%

Winston-Salem

75.0%

Tie

Metric	San Bernardino, CA	Winston-Salem, NC	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	7.9 µg/m³	8.7 µg/m³	San Bernardino +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	75.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

San Bernardino

30.7 min

Winston-Salem

20.0 min

Winston-Salem +

Metric	San Bernardino, CA	Winston-Salem, NC	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	30.7 min	20.0 min	Winston-Salem +

Which City is Right for You?

San Bernardino leads in median household income at $63,988, while winston-Salem offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $265,013. On public safety, Winston-Salem is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in San Bernardino. Winston-Salem has a lower unemployment rate at 4.6%, and San Bernardino has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, San Bernardino scores better with a lower obesity rate of 37.1%.

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About San Bernardino & Winston-Salem

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