Living in San Bernardino, CA
San Bernardino is the 108th-largest city in the US, home to about 222,000 people in 2025. Its population has been roughly flat since 2020. Prices across the metro area run above the national average (106.4 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 222,044+0% since 2020
- Median home value
- $422,3006.3 years of median income
- Median rent
- $1,508/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $67,415median, per year
- Price level
- 106.4US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 67° / 95°lows 41° / 63°
- Average commute
- 30 min6% work from home
- State income tax
- 13.3%top rate, graduated
Been to San Bernardino?
Added to your city passport. See things to do
Added to the wishlist on your city passport.
County: San Bernardino County
Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 in summer)
Elevation: about 1,053 ft
Metro area: Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
Cost of living in San Bernardino
The median home in San Bernardino is worth $422,300 and the median household earns $67,415 a year, so a typical home costs about 6.3 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,508 a month, about 27% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area at 106.4, with housing at 129.3 and goods at 101.4 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $79,800 here. California taxes wages at a top rate of 13.3%. The average combined state and local sales tax in California is 9.03%.
What would my salary be worth in San Bernardino?
San Bernardino weather
Average highs run from 67°F in January to 95°F in July, and January nights average 41°F. It gets 13 inches of rain and melted snow a year, with almost no snow. Expect about 104 days a year at 90°F or hotter. The most comfortable months are February to May and October to November.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit San Bernardino
People and work
The median resident is 32.2 years old, and 13% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 50% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 30 minutes; 6% of workers work from home.
- Median age
- 32.261st youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 13%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 50%of households
- People per sq mile
- 3,57562.1 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 1%1% walk, 0.2% bike
- Unemployment
- 6.1%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 18.6%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1973median year
Who moves to San Bernardino, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Los Angeles (Los Angeles County), Anaheim (Orange County) and San Diego (San Diego County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Los Angeles (Los Angeles County), Anaheim (Orange County) and Las Vegas (Clark County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Very High
FEMA rating for San Bernardino County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: wildfire, inland flooding, earthquake, landslide.
Home prices
+0.8% in a year
Up 36% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
7% good days
136 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA area (365 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near San Bernardino
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Mt San Antonio College 32 miles
- University of California-Riverside 10 miles
- Riverside City College 11 miles
- Chaffey College 16 miles
- San Bernardino Valley College 2 miles
- Pomona College 24 miles
- Moreno Valley College 16 miles
- Claremont McKenna College 24 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near San Bernardino
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino International Airport SBD | 3 mi | 20,147 |
| Ontario International Airport ONT | 18 mi | 3,494,554 |
| John Wayne Airport SNA | 45 mi | 5,370,273 |
| Palm Springs International Airport PSP | 49 mi | 1,617,586 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near San Bernardino
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Riverside | 10 mi | 22,593 | $12,672 | 75% |
| Riverside City College | 11 mi | 18,346 | $24,678 | 41% |
| Chaffey College | 16 mi | 18,132 | $24,504 | 34% |
| California State University-San Bernardino | 5 mi | 15,023 | $3,946 | 53% |
| San Bernardino Valley College | 2 mi | 12,234 | $17,782 | 32% |
| Moreno Valley College | 16 mi | 9,346 | $26,725 | 38% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in San Bernardino
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before January 27, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around December 2 and the first frost comes around December 19.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Redlands, CA, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for San Bernardino.
Wildfire smoke in San Bernardino
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered San Bernardino on about 37 days a year, including about 8 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in San Bernardino
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 64,199 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in San Bernardino
Downtown San Bernardino is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino City Unified School District | K to 12 | 44,192 | 76 | 20.5 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Riverside Unified School District (38,033 students), Fontana Unified School District (32,794 students), Moreno Valley Unified School District (30,926 students), Rialto Unified School District (23,073 students), Redlands Unified School District (19,310 students), Colton Joint Unified School District (18,414 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
San Bernardino's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to San Bernardino's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Stockton, CA81% matchCompare
- Modesto, CA76% matchCompare
- Citrus Heights, CA74% matchCompare
- Rancho Cordova, CA73% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near San Bernardino
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Ski resorts near San Bernardino
- Rim Nordic Ski Area 16 miles
- Snow Valley Mountain Resort 16 miles
- Mount Baldy Ski Lifts 22 miles
- Snow Summit 24 miles
Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.
Pros and cons of living in San Bernardino
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data Winters are warm, with January highs around 67°F.
Cons
- Data California's top income tax rate is 13.3%, among the highest in the country.
- Data Sales tax is high: 9.03% on average with local taxes.
- Data Summers are long and hot: about 104 days a year reach 90°F.
- Data High natural hazard risk in San Bernardino County (FEMA rates it very high), led by wildfire, inland flooding and earthquake.
- Data Air quality is a concern: 136 days in 2025 were unhealthy at least for sensitive groups (EPA).
San Bernardino report card from locals
0 of 5 reports so far. We show the San Bernardino report card once 5 residents have rated it, so one opinion never stands in for a whole city. Live here? Add yours.
Rate San Bernardino (2 minutes)
Lived here once? Map every city you have lived in and see how your homes compare.
Ask a local about San Bernardino
No questions yet. Thinking about a move? Ask about neighborhoods, schools, winters, traffic or anything else, and people who live in San Bernardino can answer.
San Bernardino through locals' eyes
No resident photos yet. Share the view from your street, your favorite park or the city on a good day.
Share a photo
Contributions are read by a person before they appear. We remove ads, links, personal attacks and anything about private people. See the most helpful locals.
Cities near San Bernardino
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rialto, CA | 6 mi | 106,554 | $487,900 | 106.4 | Compare |
| Fontana, CA | 10 mi | 221,223 | $586,800 | 95.2 | Compare |
| Moreno Valley, CA | 12 mi | 214,263 | $503,700 | 106.4 | Compare |
| Riverside, CA | 12 mi | 323,057 | $584,800 | 106.4 | Compare |
| Jurupa Valley, CA | 13 mi | 107,311 | $574,600 | 106.4 | Compare |
| Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 17 mi | 177,856 | $740,200 | 106.4 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
San Bernardino ranks 60th of 62 in our best suburbs of Riverside ranking.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare San Bernardino with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is San Bernardino a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show 6 comfortable months a year; the trade-offs are expensive homes relative to local incomes, 104 days a year at 90°F or hotter. Compare San Bernardino side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of San Bernardino?
The Census Bureau estimates San Bernardino had 222,044 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 222,090 in April 2020 (+-0%).
How much do you need to earn to live in San Bernardino?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $79,800 in the San Bernardino area. The median household here earns $67,415.
When is the best time to visit San Bernardino?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, February to May and October to November are the most comfortable months. July averages 95°F and January 67°F for daytime highs.
What county is San Bernardino in?
San Bernardino is in San Bernardino County, California. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is San Bernardino in?
San Bernardino is on Pacific Time (UTC-8, or UTC-7 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of San Bernardino?
About 1,053 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does California have a state income tax?
Yes. California has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 13.3% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of San Bernardino. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Redlands, CA station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.