BestCityFor

Best city for retirement? San Bernardino, CA

D
Score
45/100
Rank #158 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

San Bernardino can still work for retirement if you’re leaning into typical rent (2br), plus typical home value. Overall, it’s better for a specific set of priorities (#158 of 200). The main watch-out is age 65+ share.

Methodology · Sources · CA rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. Popular retirement destinations can look very different at the metro level.

Why San Bernardino ranks here

  • Typical rent (2BR): $1,449/mo (1% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Typical home value: $384,900 (11% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Commute 45+ min share: 17% (53% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Age 65+ share: 10% (25% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Broadband subscription: 87% (4% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
221,774
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 50%Female 50%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$1,449/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Typical home value
$384,900
National median: $347,900
Age 65+ share
10%
National median: 14%
Median age
32
National median: —
Median household income
$63,988
National median: $75,598
Broadband subscription
87%
National median: 91%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and typical home value.
67/100
Retiree Signals
Age mix and income as broad service proxies.
16/100
Connectivity
Broadband access for everyday logistics.
87/100
Comfort
Climate comfort and commute friction.
83/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

26%
Less than HS
61%
HS / Some college
9%
Bachelor’s
4%
Advanced

Age mix

Share of residents age 65+ (ACS).

10%
Age 65+
90%
Under 65

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

87%
Broadband
13%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$1,449/mo
Typical home value
National median $347,900
$384,900
Age 65+ share
National median 14%
10%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$63,988
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
87%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
17%

Similar cities (by score)

#156 Fontana, CA
46/100
#157 Elizabeth, NJ
45/100
#159 Miramar, FL
45/100
#160 Oxnard, CA
43/100

FAQ

›What is San Bernardino’s retirement score and rank?
San Bernardino, CA scores D (45/100) and ranks #158 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on San Bernardino city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level retirement patterns can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of San Bernardino, CA?
Population is about 221,774 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in San Bernardino, CA?
About 50% male and 50% female (ACS 2023).
›How affordable is housing in San Bernardino, CA?
Typical rent (2BR) is $1,449/mo (national median: $1,441/mo). Typical home value is $384,900 (national median: $347,900).
›What share of residents are 65+ in San Bernardino, CA?
Age 65+ share is 10% (national median: 14%).
›How common is broadband internet in San Bernardino, CA?
Broadband subscription is 87% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in San Bernardino, CA?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 26%, HS/some college 61%, bachelor’s 9%, advanced 4%.
›Where does this data come from for San Bernardino, CA?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (healthcare access, neighborhoods, taxes, climate preferences, support network).