SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SEES 24% REAL INCOME GROWTH OVER 10 YEARS
Cost of living in San Bernardino County is lower than among our Southern California neighbors, but it is higher than many peer regions. As a result, real income growth is important to ensure residents have sufficient income to thrive in San Bernardino County and afford rising expenses. This indicator tracks the change in inflation-adjusted median household income for San Bernardino County compared to the state and nation.[1] In addition, the median household income and the income needed to afford the cost of living in San Bernardino County are compared to selected peer markets.[2]
TREND
Median household income growth in the nation, California, and San Bernardino County solidly outpaced inflation until recently. In San Bernardino County, for example, real median household income had grown steadily over the past 10 years until 2022 when high inflation reduced residents’ buying power. Real income growth restarted in 2023 and 2024 as inflation cooled and incomes rose. Over the past 10 years, real median income has grown 24% to $88,294 in 2024. Gains have been less pronounced in California and the nation as a whole, posting 17% and 11% real median income growth over the same period.
REAL INCOME GROWTH IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY OUTPACES STATE AND NATION
Median Household Income (Inflation Adjusted to 2024 Dollars) in San Bernardino County, California, and the United States, 2015-2024
RACE/ETHNICITY DETAIL
Asian households in San Bernardino County have the highest median household income at $105,590 in 2024, while Black households have the lowest at $66,277. The remaining race and ethnicity groups have median household incomes clustering between approximately $85,000 to $91,000.
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME VARIES BY RACE AND ETHNICITY
Median Household Income by Race and Ethnicity in San Bernardino County, 2024
GEOGRAPHIC COMPARISON
Using the living wage estimates from the Living Wage Institute at MIT as a proxy for measuring cost of living, San Bernardino County has the lowest cost of living among Southern California peer counties, but the highest among selected peer markets outside of California. This estimate is based on the annual income needed to afford basic needs for a family of four, consisting of two working adults and two children. Comparing the income needed for a family of this type to the median household income for each peer market reveals that none of the regions compared had a median household income sufficient to afford cost of living. However, the gap varied from 26% below what is needed in the Phoenix metro area to 35% below what is needed in Los Angeles County. In San Bernardino County, the median household income of approximately $88,000 is 31% less than the approximate annual income needed of $129,000.
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY GAP BETWEEN INCOME AND COST OF LIVING IS IN THE MID-RANGE AMONG PEERS
Regional Comparison of Median Household Income Compared to Income Needed for a Household with Two Adults (Both Working) and Two Children to Afford Cost of Living, 2024
SOCIOECONOMIC DETAIL
Of the 12 household structures for which the income needed to afford the cost of living was calculated, only three household structures can earn less than the median household income and afford basic needs in San Bernardino County – single adults with no children, two adult households with no children and one adult working, and two adult household with no children and both adults working. A sampling of four household structures is displayed in the accompanying chart.
HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN NEED TO EARN ABOVE THE MEDIAN TO AFFORD BASIC NEEDS
Median Household Income Compared to the Income Needed to Afford Cost of Living for Selected Household Types in San Bernardino County, 2024
Median Income for Seniors and Families
Compared to the countywide median household income of $88,294, senior households, where the householder is 65 years of age or older, have a substantially lower income ($61,407). However, seniors are also more likely to have assets, including owning their own home rather than renting (80% vs. 58% of non-seniors) and owning their home outright, without a mortgage (52% vs. 29% of non-senior homeowners).
With a median annual income of $90,600, families with children under 18 years of age have a slightly higher median income than all households countywide.
[1] All income data in this indicator are inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars, such that $1,000 earned in 2015, for example, has the same buying power as $1,323 in 2024. “Real” refers to income adjusted for inflation.
[2] Cost of living is measured using cost estimates conducted by the Living Wage Institute (https://livingwage.mit.edu). For each state, county, and metro area in the U.S., the Institute estimates the annual income needed to cover the costs of a family’s basic needs where they live for 12 different household structures – such as, with or without children, singles or couples, and with one or both adults working. Based on recommendations from the Living Wage Institute researchers, for the geographic comparison, one household structure was used – two adults (both working) and two children. To expand analysis opportunities for readers, four additional household structures were selected to compare to median household income for San Bernardino County. The estimates for the income needed to afford basic cost of living include the following expenses: food, child care, medical, housing, transportation, civic engagement (entertainment, pets, hobbies, etc.), internet and mobile phone, other necessities (clothes, personal care, furniture, etc.), and taxes. The cost data are sourced to the best available data as of December 31, 2025 (https://livingwage.mit.edu/pages/methodology).