CountyScore

San Bernardino County

California · CA

#40 in California
57
County Score

County Report Card

About San Bernardino County, California

San Bernardino Leads National Comparison

San Bernardino County scores 60.4 out of 100, significantly exceeding the national median of 50.0 and placing it in the 67th percentile nationally. The county ranks among stronger-performing regions across the United States.

Competitive Within California

San Bernardino's score of 60.4 nearly matches California's average of 61.3, positioning it slightly below the state's midpoint among 58 counties. The county ranks as a solid performer within the state.

Lowest Tax Burden in the Group

San Bernardino features the lowest effective tax rate at 0.704% with a Tax Score of 82.5, combined with the most affordable overall housing among these eight counties at $475,000 median home value. Its $1,706 monthly rent is also among the lowest in the group.

Income Growth Lags Regional Peers

The county's Income Score of 37.0 and median household income of $82,184 are the lowest in this group, suggesting limited high-wage employment. Data on safety, health, schools, and environmental factors remain unavailable for complete assessment.

Ideal for Budget-First Homebuyers

San Bernardino serves price-conscious families and first-time homebuyers seeking maximum affordability with minimal tax burden. The trade-off is lower household incomes and fewer high-paying job opportunities.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax82.5Cost49.7SafetyComing SoonHealth66.8SchoolsComing SoonIncome37Risk0.2WaterComing Soon
🏛82.5
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠49.7
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼37
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤66.8
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡0.2
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare San Bernardino County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Rock Island County
Illinois
57
Median income: $66,768
Multnomah County
Oregon
57
Median income: $86,247
Midland County
Texas
57
Median income: $93,984
Moore County
Texas
57
Median income: $61,325
McLean County
Illinois
56.9
Median income: $78,329

Deep Dives

San Bernardino County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in San Bernardino County

via TaxByCounty

San Bernardino's tax rate stays moderate

San Bernardino's effective tax rate of 0.704% sits just below the national median of 0.714%, placing it near the middle of the national distribution. The median property tax of $3,346 is 24% higher than the national median of $2,690, reflecting both the rate and the $475,000 median home value.

San Bernardino ranks below state average

At 0.704%, San Bernardino County's effective tax rate is slightly below California's state average of 0.714%, making it one of the state's lower-tax counties. The median property tax of $3,346 is notably below California's median of $4,045.

San Bernardino offers tax relief vs peers

San Bernardino's 0.704% rate is the lowest among inland California counties, below Riverside's 0.821% and Sacramento's 0.755%. This makes San Bernardino an attractive choice for homebuyers concerned with property tax burden.

Median San Bernardino home costs $3,346

A homeowner with San Bernardino's median property value of $475,000 pays approximately $3,346 annually in property taxes. With mortgage-related assessments included, the total reaches about $3,729.

Even moderate taxes deserve review

San Bernardino homeowners should still verify their assessments, as overvaluation exists across all tax brackets. A free assessment appeal request could uncover additional savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in San Bernardino County

via CostByCounty

San Bernardino's rents press household budgets

San Bernardino County's 24.9% rent-to-income ratio ranks among California's highest, exceeding the national baseline of 22.4% by more than 2 percentage points. With median household income of $82,184—9% below the national average of $74,755—the county faces genuine affordability pressure.

San Bernardino struggles with affordability gap

At 24.9%, San Bernardino's rent burden stands well above California's state average of 22.4%, making it one of the state's least affordable counties. Only San Diego (25.3%) and Riverside (24.3%) show worse affordability ratios among the examined counties.

San Bernardino offers the lowest rents inland

San Bernardino's $1,706 median rent is the cheapest among inland counties Riverside ($1,814) and Sacramento ($1,702)—a tight competition for inland value. Home values of $475,000 represent the lowest among all examined counties, appealing to budget-conscious buyers.

Nearly one-quarter of income goes to rent

San Bernardino renters pay $1,706 monthly while homeowners spend $1,791—among the lowest absolute costs in California but consuming an outsized share of income. At $82,184 median household income, the typical family dedicates nearly 25% of earnings to housing, limiting other financial flexibility.

San Bernardino: budget-friendly California entry point

Cost-conscious families seeking California should consider San Bernardino, offering the state's lowest median home values ($475,000) and cheapest inland rents at $1,706. While affordability ratios remain tight, absolute housing costs provide genuine value for price-sensitive movers.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in San Bernardino County

via IncomeByCounty

San Bernardino earns above the nation

San Bernardino County's median household income of $82,184 exceeds the national median of $74,755 by roughly $7,400. Despite lower California costs in some areas, the county demonstrates solid earning power within the Inland Empire economy.

Below California's average income

At $82,184, San Bernardino's median household income falls slightly below California's state average of $87,001. The county ranks in the lower-middle tier among California's 58 counties, reflecting the Inland Empire's more affordable but economically developing character.

Lowest income in Southern California survey

San Bernardino's $82,184 median is the lowest among Southern California counties examined here, trailing Riverside ($89,672) and San Diego ($102,285). The county's affordability comes with lower wage growth, requiring households to be strategic about earning and saving.

Housing costs cut deep into earnings

San Bernardino's rent-to-income ratio of 24.9% is among the highest in this survey, straining household budgets despite lower housing values. With a median home value of $475,000, residents must carefully plan to transition from renting to homeownership.

Strategic saving overcomes income gaps

San Bernardino residents earning $82,184 face tighter budgets but can build wealth through disciplined saving and employer benefits. Maximizing 401(k) matches, using HSAs, and investing in lower-cost index funds helps overcome the county's modest income-to-cost-of-living ratio.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in San Bernardino County

via HealthByCounty

San Bernardino faces steep health gaps

San Bernardino residents live 75.4 years on average, nearly 5 years below the U.S. average of 80.2 years—one of the largest gaps in the nation. About 21.8% report poor or fair health, the highest rate in this group and well above the national average of 15%. These numbers signal urgent, systemic health challenges.

Worst health outcomes in California

At 75.4 years, San Bernardino's life expectancy is 3.1 years below California's 78.5-year average, the lowest in this cohort. The 8.7% uninsured rate exceeds the state average of 7.2%, and the 21.8% poor/fair health rate is the worst statewide. San Bernardino ranks among California's most health-challenged counties.

Dramatically worse than regional peers

San Bernardino's 75.4-year life expectancy lags all neighboring counties: Riverside (77.8), San Luis Obispo (80.7), and San Diego (80.3). The 8.7% uninsured rate is the highest in the region, and the 21.8% poor/fair health rate is 5+ points above neighbors. The disparities underscore concentrated disadvantage.

Access barriers compound health crises

San Bernardino has 59 primary care providers and 311 mental health providers per 100,000—below state norms. The 8.7% uninsured population lacks routine preventive care access, likely driving higher rates of chronic disease and poor health. Expanding both coverage and provider capacity is essential for recovery.

Enrollment is a life-or-death choice

With the county's 8.7% uninsured rate and significant health disparities, getting covered through Covered California or Medi-Cal at coveredca.com is urgent. Preventive care, chronic disease management, and mental health support are game-changers for San Bernardino's health trajectory. Your enrollment matters for your family's future.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in San Bernardino County

via RiskByCounty

San Bernardino faces extreme nationwide disaster risk

San Bernardino County's composite risk score of 99.84 represents "Very High" risk and approaches the absolute maximum, far exceeding typical U.S. county hazard levels. This score surpasses California's average of 88.72 by a massive margin, indicating exceptional multi-hazard exposure.

Most dangerous county in California

San Bernardino ranks as California's highest-risk county overall, with near-maximal scores in four major hazard categories: earthquakes (99.84), wildfires (99.90), and floods (99.84). Only Riverside County rivals its overall threat level.

Equally dangerous as Riverside, deadlier than most

San Bernardino (99.84) matches Riverside County's extreme risk and dramatically exceeds San Benito (85.24) and San Luis Obispo (95.90). The Inland Empire's two largest counties form California's most disaster-prone region.

Earthquakes, wildfires, floods all extreme

San Bernardino residents face nearly identical threats in three major categories: earthquakes (99.84), wildfires (99.90), and floods (99.84)—all scoring at or near maximum. The county has experienced devastating wildfires in recent years while remaining on major earthquake fault lines.

Triple insurance: earthquake, wildfire, and flood

San Bernardino homeowners absolutely must add earthquake and wildfire riders to standard policies, then verify flood coverage—these three hazards alone require comprehensive protection. Given the county's extreme exposure, these additions are not optional but essential.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.