Chino vs San Diego

The short version

  • Chino is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 5% lower than in the San Diego area (BEA 2024).
  • The median home costs $683,400 in Chino and $906,700 in San Diego.
  • Chino has more scorching days: 99 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 4.
  • Chino is growing faster: +5.6% since 2020 vs +1.6%.
  • Commutes are shorter in San Diego (24 vs 33 minutes each way).

Side by side

Chino, CASan Diego, CA
People
Population (2025)96,9571,406,106
Growth since 2020+5.6%+1.6%
People per square mile3,2784,312
Median age36.236.2
Bachelor's degree or higher27%51%
Money and housing
Median household income$104,682$108,077
Median home value$683,400$906,700
Home value to income6.5×8.4×
Median rent (with utilities)$2,336$2,313
Metro price level (US = 100)106.4111.9
Housing price level (US = 100)129.3179.3
$75,000 elsewhere equals$79,800$83,900
Homeowners64%47%
Top state income tax13.3%13.3%
Combined sales tax9.03%9.03%
Work and commute
Average commute (minutes)33.123.5
Work from home15%21%
Take public transit1%3%
Unemployment (2020-24 avg)6.5%6%
Poverty rate8%11%
Weather
January high / low70° / 42°66° / 49°
July high / low94° / 63°74° / 65°
Precipitation per year10 in9 in
Snowfall per year0 in0 in
Days 90°F or hotter994
Nights below freezing110
Comfortable months612
Risks, air and home prices
Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county)Very HighVery High
FEMA risk score (lower is safer)99.899.7
Good air days, 20257%18%
Home prices, past year+0.8%+2.5%
Home prices, past 5 years+35.9%+40.8%

Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.

Weather, month by month

40°50°60°70°80°90°100°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Chino San Diego. Solid lines are average highs, dashed lines average lows (°F), NOAA 1991-2020 normals.

Most comfortable months: Chino: February to May and October to November. San Diego: January to December.

Full monthly tables: Chino weather by month and San Diego weather by month.

What $75,000 is worth

A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $79,800 in Chino and $83,900 in San Diego. Moving from Chino to San Diego, you would need about $78,800 to match a $75,000 salary.

Try your own salary

Moving between Chino and San Diego

2,928people moved from San Bernardino County, CA to San Diego County, CA in a year
2,303moved the other way

IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years, for the counties that contain each city. See where else people move from Chino and San Diego.

Which would you pick?

One vote per person. Results show after you vote.

Compare something else

vs