2027 MNM LIVABILITY INDEX

San Bernardino

California (CA)

Best for: Value-seeking Southern California households needing Inland Empire job and freeway access

2027 CITY CLASSMedium City100,000–299,999 residents

Modern Livability66.3/ 100

AT A GLANCE

Everyday numbers

Population222,044

Median Home$450,000

Median Rent$1,650

Median Household Income$60,000

Cost of Living~123.0 (US=100; 2024 city/metro estimate)

Average Commute30.0 min

Unemployment~5.2% metro (2026)

Metro AreaRiverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

2027 MODERN LIVABILITY SCORECARD

How this city actually lives

Twelve dimensions capture both hard data and the everyday experience traditional lists tend to miss.

66.3overall

Housing & Financial Reality32.0

Housing burden, taxes, insurance, utilities and what local incomes actually buy.

Ease of Living74.0

Errands, commute friction, parking, services and the effort required for daily life.

Safety & Stability40.0

Personal, neighborhood, road and environmental stability.

Economic Opportunity78.0

Jobs, wages, career mobility, employer diversity and economic resilience.

Health & Wellness62.0

Healthcare access, activity, mental wellness, healthy food and environmental health.

Beauty & Sense of Place72.0

Scenery, architecture, trees, cleanliness, public realm and distinct sense of place.

Mobility & Congestion58.0

Traffic delay, commute reliability, walking, cycling and transit usefulness.

Nature & Escape86.0

Trails, water, mountains, parks, public lands and how easily residents can escape.

Diversity & Belonging80.0

Diversity, integration, accessibility, newcomer friendliness and community connection.

Climate & Environment82.0

Comfortable weather, air quality, severe weather and environmental exposure.

Community & Culture74.0

Restaurants, arts, events, third places, recreation and social life.

Infrastructure & Connectivity69.0

Broadband, utilities, airport, highways, transit and essential connectivity.

THE THINGS OLD-SCHOOL LISTS MISS

What daily life feels like

Traffic / CongestionModerate to high. Peak-hour congestion is common on major regional corridors, though local trips can still be manageable.

Weekend EscapeVery good. Residents have multiple practical parks, trails or regional escapes for day trips and weekends.

WalkabilityAbout 45/100 citywide Walk Score. Selected districts are walkable, but many daily errands still require a car.

Airport AccessVery good. Ontario International is the principal commercial airport for much of the Inland Empire.

Outdoor AccessVery good. Parks, trails and regional recreation provide strong everyday outdoor options.

Healthcare AccessAdequate to strong. Core hospital and outpatient services are available, with some specialty care requiring travel within the region.

Air QualityMixed. Inland heat, ozone, traffic emissions and wildfire smoke can create recurring unhealthy periods, especially in summer.

Third Places / Social LifeGood. Community parks, restaurants, cafés and local events provide a workable social fabric, though options are less deep than in larger cultural hubs.

EDITORIAL VIEW

More than a number

Trajectory: Improving

WHY IT STANDS OUT

Why we chose it

San Bernardino is included in the 2027 MNM Livability Index as the #108 most populous U.S. city in the Census Bureau's 2025 estimates. Its strongest livability advantages are relative socal housing value; logistics jobs; mountains nearby; transit links, while the clearest tradeoffs are safety challenges; air quality; heat; traffic; fiscal legacy issues. The profile balances housing, everyday ease, safety, opportunity, wellness, beauty, mobility, nature, belonging, climate, culture and infrastructure rather than relying on a single headline metric.

REAL LIFE