Which city is safer, San Bernardino or Dallas?

San Bernardino is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 109 in Dallas — 71% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, San Bernardino or Dallas?

School composites are close: A- in San Bernardino and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

San Bernardino, CA vs Dallas, TX

San Bernardino, CA versus Dallas, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,750 a month in San Bernardino and $1,472 in Dallas, and median household income lands at $72,400 versus $70,518. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

San Bernardino takes job market, safety, and weather, while Dallas takes affordability. The widest gap is crime index, where San Bernardino leads by 71% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in San Bernardino can feel further apart than San Bernardino and Dallas do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the San Bernardino and Dallas reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full San Bernardino report Full Dallas report

San Bernardino, CA

Rent: $1,750/mo
Median income: $72,400
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 88°F

Dallas, TX

Rent: $1,472/mo
Median income: $70,518
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 91°F

Rent

16% cheaper

Dallas rent is 16% cheaper than San Bernardino

San Bernardino

$1,750/mo

Dallas

Winner

$1,472/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,750 in San Bernardino, so Dallas is 16% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,336 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Dallas still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in San Bernardino.

Median income

3% higher

San Bernardino's median income is 3% higher than Dallas

San Bernardino

Winner

$72,400

Dallas

$70,518

What this means for your life

Median household income is $72,400 in San Bernardino versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 3% higher in San Bernardino — about $1,882 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

71% lower crime

San Bernardino's crime index is 71% lower than Dallas

San Bernardino

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

Dallas

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

San Bernardino's crime index is 32 versus 109 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% lower in San Bernardino. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, San Bernardino is the easier city. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

San Bernardino and Dallas are about even on school scores.

San Bernardino

A- · 84/100

Dallas

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in San Bernardino, A- in Dallas). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

15% more comfortable

San Bernardino weather is 15% more comfortable than Dallas

San Bernardino

Winner

88°F typical

Dallas

91°F typical

What this means for your life

San Bernardino scores 15% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 88°F in San Bernardino and 91°F in Dallas. San Bernardino reads as hot, long summers; Dallas reads as hot, long summers. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Dallas's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, San Bernardino is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose San Bernardino

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 3% higher ($72,400), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 88°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

San Bernardino is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 71% lower than Dallas (32 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the San Bernardino report →

Fit check

Who should choose Dallas

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Dallas

Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Open the Dallas report →

Bottom line

San Bernardino vs Dallas, called

If safety is your priority, San Bernardino is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Dallas pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, San Bernardino offers the better overall package.

Common questions

San Bernardino vs Dallas FAQ

Is San Bernardino cheaper than Dallas?: No. Dallas is cheaper: typical rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,750 in San Bernardino — 16% lower. Median household income is $72,400 in San Bernardino compared with $70,518 in Dallas, so San Bernardino has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, San Bernardino or Dallas?: San Bernardino is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 109 in Dallas — 71% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, San Bernardino or Dallas?: School composites are close: A- in San Bernardino and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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