In San Bernardino County, California, rent on a two-bedroom takes about three in ten dollars of the typical household's income
In San Bernardino County, 28.8% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 94% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 81% of U.S. counties.
What drives San Bernardino County's score
In San Bernardino County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 95.4. About three in ten renters (29.1%, 2020 to 2024) pay half their income or more in rent, a higher share than in 95% of U.S. counties. Jobs come next, at 79.7.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in San Bernardino County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
San Bernardino County does better than most counties on two measures: median household income ($87,665, 2024) and people with a disability (12.2%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 95.4 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent29.1% · 2020 to 202495th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income28.8% · fiscal year 202794th percentile
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- 79.7 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.2% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202684th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working25.1% · 2020 to 202474th percentile
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- 68.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind7.4% · August 202577th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.4% · August 202566th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score43.0% · second quarter of 202659th percentile
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- 65.9 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector25.3% · August 202557th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people196.7 · 202573rd percentile
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- 34.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line12.6% · 202445th percentile
- Children below the poverty line16.6% · 202447th percentile
- People with a disability12.2% · 2020 to 202416th percentile
- People without health insurance8.0% · 2020 to 202451st percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$87,665 · 202412th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in San Bernardino County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In San Bernardino County, 12.6% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
San Bernardino County
California
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In San Bernardino County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 23.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In San Bernardino County, California, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 23.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in San Bernardino County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 9.5% in 2011 to 11.4% in 2012.
The share of households in San Bernardino County getting SNAP food aid more than doubled from 2009 to 2024, reaching 15.8%
High on the chart: 15.9% in 2016. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, San Bernardino County, California.
How San Bernardino County has changed
San Bernardino County's population had its largest rise, from 1,027,817 in 1984 to 1,352,911 in 1989.
San Bernardino County's population tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 2,214,281, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 1969 to 1974, reaching 713,868. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, San Bernardino County, California.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in San Bernardino County doubled to 848,961, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2000 to 2005, reaching 633,672. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, San Bernardino County, California.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.6% | 2025 5.4% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 11.6% | 2024 12.6% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $30,550 | 2024 $87,665 |
The table uses 5.4% for 2025; the score uses 5.2% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in San Bernardino County's history
2003
A wildfire in October 2003 did $696.4 million in property damage and killed four people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
A wildfire in November 2003 did $278.6 million in property damage and killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2005
Heavy rain in January 2005 did $70 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
A flood in December 2010 did $97 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 2,181,654, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1965
37 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered San Bernardino County, 24 of them for flooding. FEMA
San Bernardino County beside its neighbors
Of the eight counties that border San Bernardino County, in California, Nevada and Arizona, three score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, San Bernardino County ranks 5th of the nine; La Paz County is highest, at 43.0%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kern County, CA | 88 | 18.6% | 24.0% |
| Clark County, NV | 87 | 12.5% | 17.5% |
| Mohave County, AZ | 83 | 14.6% | 36.3% |
| San Bernardino County, CA | 81 | 12.6% | 23.6% |
| La Paz County, AZ | 76 | 18.7% | 43.0% |
| Riverside County, CA | 70 | 9.8% | 21.3% |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 66 | 13.3% | 20.4% |
| Orange County, CA | 36 | 9.7% | 12.5% |
| Inyo County, CA | 29 | 11.2% | 26.1% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is San Bernardino County the poorest county in California?
No, San Bernardino County's poverty rate was 12.6% in 2024, 33rd highest of 58 in California (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Trinity County, at 23.0%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, San Bernardino County ranks 8th of 58 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in San Bernardino County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Inland Empire Resource Center
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Inland Fair Housing and Mediation Board
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Neighborhood Housing Services of the Inland Empire, Inc.
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Inland Counties Legal Services (ICLS)
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for San Bernardino County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in San Bernardino County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.