1st Advantage MortgageThe median San Bernardino County household earns $85,478, and 13% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's California license first.
On this page
- San Bernardino County at a glance
- What San Bernardino County households earn
- Housing costs in San Bernardino County
- The San Bernardino County job picture
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside San Bernardino County
- A San Bernardino County household budget, worked through
- Who lives in San Bernardino County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for San Bernardino County borrowers
- Lender oversight for San Bernardino County
- Steps before you apply in San Bernardino County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
San Bernardino County at a glance
Roughly 2,197,104 residents live in San Bernardino County, California, 5th by population among the state's 58 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 20,068 square miles, that is close to 109 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 52 places in the county (24 incorporated, 28 census-designated); the largest is San Bernardino, with about 222,724 residents, or 10% of the county.
What San Bernardino County households earn
At $85,478, the typical San Bernardino County household income is 30% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 28 California counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in San Bernardino County | Difference from California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.0% | +1.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.4% | +5.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.8% | +1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.8% | -8.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 43% of San Bernardino County households make $100,000 or more, and 19% make less than $35,000. Census counts 13.3% of San Bernardino County residents in poverty, against 12.0% across California. A household earning below the $85,478 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in San Bernardino County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,801 in San Bernardino County versus $2,036 statewide. By the Census definition, 59% of San Bernardino County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $505,000, a typical San Bernardino County house costs 5.9 times what the median household earns in a year. 62% of San Bernardino County households own their home and 38% rent. The median year built is 1983.
| Home costs | San Bernardino County | California | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,801/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $505,000 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 39% | 38% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
The San Bernardino County job picture
The biggest employer of San Bernardino County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Transportation, warehousing and utilities stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 7.1% in San Bernardino County. About 74% drive to work alone and 25% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 4.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of San Bernardino County workers | vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.2% | +0.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +2.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 12.0% | +5.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.7% | -4.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.8% | -0.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +1.5 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to San Bernardino County's, from 79 to 134 miles away. Income ranges from $57,681 in Imperial County to $116,289 in Orange County; 4 of these neighbors top San Bernardino County's median. The list crosses into Nevada, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino County | - | $85,478 | $1,801/mo | 62% |
| Riverside County, CA | 79 mi | $93,074 | $1,901/mo | 69% |
| Clark County, NV | 114 mi | $76,472 | $1,626/mo | 58% |
| Orange County, CA | 122 mi | $116,289 | $2,434/mo | 56% |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 127 mi | $90,112 | $1,954/mo | 46% |
| San Diego County, CA | 131 mi | $106,268 | $2,246/mo | 55% |
| Imperial County, CA | 134 mi | $57,681 | $1,056/mo | 57% |
Places inside San Bernardino County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 52 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 95% of San Bernardino County residents live in one of the 52. Incomes vary by place: $138,750 at the median in San Antonio Heights, $38,243 in Needles. Rent is cheapest in Yermo ($681) and steepest in Chino Hills ($2,894). Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other San Bernardino County community.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino | city | 222,724 | $67,415 | $1,508 | 80 mi |
| Fontana | city | 214,169 | $102,821 | $1,839 | 89 mi |
| Ontario | city | 180,547 | $88,941 | $2,030 | 99 mi |
| Rancho Cucamonga | city | 175,411 | $111,895 | $2,357 | 93 mi |
| Victorville | city | 137,627 | $74,410 | $1,618 | 70 mi |
| Rialto | city | 104,143 | $88,857 | $1,759 | 86 mi |
| Hesperia | city | 100,775 | $72,160 | $1,590 | 72 mi |
| Chino | city | 92,652 | $104,682 | $2,336 | 104 mi |
| Upland | city | 79,257 | $105,830 | $2,029 | 99 mi |
| Chino Hills | city | 77,927 | $126,334 | $2,894 | 108 mi |
| Apple Valley | town | 75,473 | $69,882 | $1,444 | 63 mi |
| Redlands | city | 73,375 | $105,041 | $2,005 | 79 mi |
| Highland | city | 56,675 | $77,120 | $1,629 | 76 mi |
| Yucaipa | city | 54,421 | $90,794 | $1,711 | 75 mi |
A San Bernardino County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to San Bernardino County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,123 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,801, or 25 cents of every gross dollar
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $763 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 43% cap, $3,063 total minus rent leaves $1,262
If your rent is above $1,801, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who lives in San Bernardino County, in numbers
23% of San Bernardino County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 8.0%, against 6.6% for California.
| Indicator | San Bernardino County | All of California | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.3% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.5% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.0% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.1% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.2% |
| 60+ min | 16.9% |
What the numbers mean for San Bernardino County borrowers
A few patterns in the San Bernardino County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Vehicle repairs. 25% of San Bernardino County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 43% of San Bernardino County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- 59% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Lender oversight for San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The California guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in San Bernardino County
Steps that save money for San Bernardino County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in California.
- Ask a San Bernardino County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
Guides that cover parts of San Bernardino County:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in San Bernardino County?
$85,478 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $99,122 for California. It ranks 29th of 58 in the state.
Is San Bernardino County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,801 against $2,036 statewide, and 59% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the San Bernardino County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 52 Census places: San Bernardino, Fontana, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Victorville.
Are San Bernardino County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a San Bernardino County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In California it is the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.