PLACE
GEOGRAPHY
Cities and Major Unincorporated Areas in San Bernardino County, by Region
Valley Region
2%
Percent of county’s total land area that is in Valley Region
Mountain Region
4%
Percent of county’s total land area that is in the Mountain Region
East Desert Region
17%
Percent of county’s total land area that is in the East Desert Region
North Desert Region
77%
Percent of county’s total land area that is in the North Desert Region
Bloomington*
Chino
Chino Hills
Colton
Fontana
Grand
Highland
Loma Linda
Mentone*
Montclair
Muscoy*
Ontario
Rancho Cucamonga
Redlands
Rialto
San Antonio Heights*
San Bernardino
Upland
Yucaipa
Angelus Oaks*
Big Bear Lake
Bear Valley*
Crest Forest*
Hilltop*
Lake Arrowhead*
Lytle Creek*
Mt. Baldy*
Oak Glen*
Wrightwood*
Homestead Valley*
Joshua Tree*
Morongo Valley*
Pioneertown*
Twentynine Palms
Yucca Valley
Adelanto
Apple Valley
Baker*
Barstow
Daggett*
El Mirage*
Helendale*
Hesperia
Lucerne Valley*
Needles
Newberry Springs*
Oak Hills*
Oro Grande*
Phelan/Pinon Hills*
Victorville
Yermo*
Sources: San Bernardino County Countywide Plan, Policy Plan (https://countywideplan.com/resources/maps-tables-figures/ and Communities (https://countywideplan.com/communities/) and Land Use Background Report; California State Association of Counties (www.counties.org); San Bernardino County (www.sbcounty.gov/main/pages/Cities.aspx)
20,105
Size in square miles of San Bernardino County, the largest county in the contiguous United States
24
Incorporated cities in San Bernardino County
88%
Land area outside the control of San Bernardino County or city governments
LAND USE
82%
Land area that is federally owned
17%
Land area used for military purposes
22%
Land area dedicated to housing, industrial, utilities, agriculture, transportation, and parks
7,641
Acres of County regional parks
1,013
Acres of Special District parks
8.5 million
Acres of recreational land
PEOPLE
POPULATION
2,187,665
Population (2022)
18%
Projected growth between 2022 and 2045
POPULATION DENSITY
109
Persons per square mile (countywide)
3,236
Persons per square mile (Valley Region only)
AGE
In terms of absolute growth, younger age groups are expected to grow at slower rates between 2022 and 2045. The number of children ages 0-5 is projected to increase by 3.6% during this time, while the number of children ages 6 to 17 is projected to decrease modestly (0.5% decline), and the number of young adults ages 18 to 24 is expected to increase by 7%. All other age groups are expected to see double digit population growth between 2022 and 2045, with seniors ages 65 and older experiencing the highest rate of growth at 65%.
For context, the statewide population of children ages 0-5 is expected to decrease by 2% over this period, and the population of children ages 6 to 17 is projected to decrease by 10% statewide. The statewide senior population is projected to increase 59%.
In terms of relative growth, the proportion of the San Bernardino County population made up of residents ages 65 and older is projected to grow from 14% of the population in 2022 to 19% by 2045. The size of all other age groups is projected to remain constant or shrink in varying degrees relative to the total population.
FASTEST GROWTH RATE: SENIORS
Projected Change in Age Group Proportions of the Total San Bernardino County Population, 2022 and 2045
RACE AND ETHNICITY
At 52% of the total San Bernardino County population, Latino residents, who may be of any race, are the largest race and ethnic group in the county. Latino residents are projected to increase to 55% of the total population by 2045. White residents are projected to decrease as a proportion of the overall population, while Black residents and people identifying as Two or More Races are projected to increase slightly. The share of Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islander individuals as a percent of the overall population are projected to remain the same.
INCREASING DIVERSITY OVER TIME
Projected Change in Race/Ethnic Group Proportions of the Total San Bernardino County Population, 2022 and 2045
SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS
21%
Born outside of the U.S.
44%
Speak a language other than English at home
3.2
Average household size
39%
Households with children under 18
23%
Families with children under 18 led by a single parent
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
40%
Voter turnout among population eligible to vote (2022)
86%
Voting by mail (2022)
2022 MIDTERM TURNOUT DROPS COMPARED TO 2018
Turnout Among Registered Voters for Presidential and Mid-Term Election Years in San Bernardino County, 2006-2022
EDUCATION
23%
Residents over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree or higher (2021)
87%
High school graduation rate (2021/22)
The high school graduation rate has risen from 78.6% in the 2012/13 school year to 86.6% in the 2021/22 academic year, rebounding from a drop of nearly four percent during the peak of the COVID pandemic.
2021/22 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE HIGHEST IN 10 YEARS
High School Graduation Rate in San Bernardino County, 2012 – 2022
ECONOMY
EMPLOYMENT
1,023,600
Number in the labor force (November 2022)
981,200
Number employed (November 2022)
42,400
Number unemployed (November 2022)
4.1%
Unemployment rate (November 2022)
INCOME
17%
Child poverty rate (2021)
13%
Overall poverty rate (2021)
$74,846
Median household income (2021)
HOUSING
$437,500
Median single-family existing home price (November 2022)
52%
Buyers who can afford an entry-level home (priced at 85% of median) (2022 Q3)
TECHNOLOGY
97%
Percent of households with one
or more computing device (2022)
93%
Percent of households with
an Internet subscription (2022)
SOURCES
PLACE
- San Bernardino County Countywide Plan, 2020 (geography)
- Southern California Association of Government, custom data request, 2023 (land use)
- San Bernardino Regional Parks Department (County park acreage); Department of Public Works, Special Districts (Special District park acreage); Southern California Association of Government, custom data request, 2023 (countywide recreational acreage)
PEOPLE
- California Department of Finance, Demographic Research Unit, Table E-1, January 2020 (population)
- California Department of Finance, Demographic Research Unit, Table P-2A (population projections)
- San Bernardino County Land Use Department, 2007 General Plan; U.S. Census Bureau, 2021 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Note: Valley Region includes Ontario Census County Division (CCD), San Bernardino CCD, and Yucaipa CCD. (population density)
- California Department of Finance, Demographic Research Unit, Tables P-1 and P-2 (population projections by age and race/ethnicity) Note: “Latino” includes any race. All race calculations are non-Latino.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2021 American Community Survey, 1-Year Estimates, DP02 (social and household characteristics, educational attainment)
- California Department of Education (high school graduation rate)
- California Secretary of State (civic engagement)
ECONOMY
- California Employment Development Department, Labor Market Information, Monthly Labor Force Data for Cities and Census Designated Places (CDP), October 2022 – Preliminary (unemployment rate, labor force counts)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2021 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, DP03 (median income, poverty)
- California Association of Realtors, November 2022 (median sale price)
- California Association of Realtors, First-Time Buyer Housing Affordability Index, third quarter 2022 (percent able to afford entry level home)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2021 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates (households with computing device, households with an Internet subscription)