San Bernardino County is the fifth most populous county in California and the fourteenth most populous county in the United States. It is the largest county in the contiguous United States, with an area of 20,105 square miles. The majority of the population lives in three county divisions with an area of 1,730 square miles. The remaining area of desert and mountains is thinly populated. Over 80% of the land is owned by the Federal Government.
Residents enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, biking, and a wide range of outdoor activities in the Regional Parks system and city parks. Regional Parks of San Bernardino is responsible for 22 miles of the 110-mile Santa Ana River Trail that will run from the San Bernardino County National Forest to the Pacific Ocean at Huntington Beach (60% of the trail is complete). The temperature of the region will vary from 42ºF-96ºF over the course of the year but rarely falls below 35ºF or rises above 104ºF (source weatherspark.com). The county is served by 26 hospitals and three level-I trauma centers.
Demographics
The population of San Bernardino County, California was 2,181,654 in 2020 according to the United States Census Bureau, and the population estimate for 2021 was 2,194,710.
According to the Census Bureau, some recent statistics for San Bernardino County include:
- An approximate growth rate of 0.6% from 2020-2021
- Approximately 55.3% of the population are aged 18-64 years
- Approximately 32.6% of the population is under 18 years
Housing
Some recent housing data from the Census Bureau indicates that:
- There were 651,743 households with 3.26 persons per household from 2017 to 2021
- There were 735,979 housing units as of July 1, 2021
- The owner-occupied housing unit rate from 2017 to 2021 was 60.5%
- The median gross rent from 2017 to 2021 was $1,427
Income & Employment
Income Data
The median household income between 2017 and 2021 was $70,287 (in 2021 dollars) and the employment rate was 641,517 in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Top Employers
For investors looking to purchase multi-family units, apartment buildings, and other commercial properties in San Bernardino County, knowing the top employers in the area can be invaluable information when it comes to deciding what an ideal property location is.
Currently, the top employers of San Bernardino County include the County of San Bernardino (~22,000 employees), Loma Linda University Medical Center (~16,000 employees), Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms (~12,500 active duty and ~21,000 DOD/contractors), and Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel (~5,000 employees).
Transportation
Currently, drivers in San Bernardino County rely on 5 interstate highways, 2 U.S. highways, and 19 state highways because cars are the dominant mode of transportation.
Other modes of public transportation include:
- Public Transit Bus: OmniTrans serves San Bernardino County within 480 square miles of the urbanized areas of the county covering 15 cities. Transit rates start at $2 for a single ride, $6 for a 1-Day Pass, and $60 for a 31-Day Pass in 2023. Reduced fares are available for veterans, seniors, and persons with disabilities.
- Public Transit Rail: Metrolink provides rail service to commuters in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and Ventura Counties. Metrolink connects with the Metro Rail and Metro Bus System in Los Angeles County. Ticket prices will vary depending on your starting point and destination.
- Commercial Airport: San Bernardino International Airport is the major commercial airport. The county manages 6 general aviation airports.
Shopping Centers
The county includes a variety of outdoor shopping areas like Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga (Macy’s, JCPenney, and Bass Pro Shops) and Citrus Plaza in Redlands (Kohl’s and Target) and indoor shopping areas such as Montclair Place in Montclair (Macy’s and JCPenney).
Medical Centers
The top two hospitals in San Bernardino County, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report are:
- Loma Linda University Medical Center (Loma Linda, CA)
- ?Kaiser Permanente Fontana and Ontario Medical Centers (Fontana, CA)
Sports, Entertainment & Recreation
The AHL Ontario Reign play home games at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. The Toyota Arena is also home to an NBA G League team, the Ontario Clippers, and the MASL Empire Strykers.
Residents enjoy a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities at over 9 Regional Parks and a multitude of city parks in the county. There are plenty of skateparks. The Speicher Park received approval for a $106,500 re-design in late 2022. The total project estimate is $650,000 with an estimated completion date of June 2023.
Wintertime is celebrated in style in the San Bernardino Mountains. Resorts for skiing and snowboarding include Bear Mountain Ski Resort, Snow Summit Ski Resort, Snow Valley Mountain Resort, and Rim Nordic Ski Area (the only cross-country ski area in Southern California).
Learn More About San Bernardino County with Mark Bridge
Thinking of purchasing multifamily units and investment properties in San Bernardino County or Southern California? Connect with the Bridge Multifamily Team at Cushman & Wakefield to get started on your multifamily property search today. Reach out to us online or give our office a call at 949-372-4888!
