Cities
San Bernardino County has 24 incorporated municipalities, ranging from large urban population centers to small mountain and desert communities. This guide compares the county's incorporated cities and towns by population and provides context for understanding how community size relates to local government and public services. Population figures below are based on provisional January 1, 2026 estimates from the California Department of Finance.
Largest Cities in San Bernardino County
San Bernardino is currently the county's most populous incorporated city, with an estimated population of 222,292. Fontana follows closely with 219,774 residents. Ontario has an estimated population of 187,863, Rancho Cucamonga has 176,418, and Victorville has 139,680.
Rialto and Hesperia also have populations above 100,000, while Chino is close to that level at 95,946. These figures provide a useful way to compare the relative size of incorporated communities, but population alone does not determine which agency provides a particular government service.
San Bernardino County Cities by Population
The table below ranks all 24 incorporated communities by estimated population. The figures are provisional January 1, 2026 estimates published by the California Department of Finance in its E-1 population estimates. Population estimates can differ from U.S. Census Bureau figures because the agencies use different reference dates and estimation methods.
| City or Town | Population |
|---|---|
| San Bernardino | 222,292 |
| Fontana | 219,774 |
| Ontario | 187,863 |
| Rancho Cucamonga | 176,418 |
| Victorville | 139,680 |
| Rialto | 106,809 |
| Hesperia | 103,349 |
| Chino | 95,946 |
| Upland | 78,406 |
| Chino Hills | 77,191 |
| Apple Valley | 75,236 |
| Redlands | 73,811 |
| Highland | 56,655 |
| Yucaipa | 54,711 |
| Colton | 52,844 |
| Montclair | 38,378 |
| Adelanto | 36,652 |
| Twentynine Palms | 27,166 |
| Loma Linda | 25,400 |
| Barstow | 24,727 |
| Yucca Valley | 21,798 |
| Grand Terrace | 12,817 |
| Big Bear Lake | 4,920 |
| Needles | 4,796 |
City or County Services?
Being located within San Bernardino County does not necessarily mean every local government service is provided by the County. Incorporated cities can have their own responsibilities for services such as building permits, code enforcement, local roads, planning, law enforcement, and other municipal functions. The exact arrangement depends on the city and the service involved.
County departments may play a larger role in unincorporated communities, where there is no incorporated city government providing municipal services. Some services are also countywide or are administered through separate public agencies and court systems, so the correct office may depend on both the type of service and the location involved.
For example, a property-related question may involve Property Search, Property Tax, or the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk. A court matter should generally begin with Superior Court or Court Case Search, while county-related animal and infrastructure services can be explored through Animal Care and Public Works.
Communities Across a Large County
Population size is only one way to compare communities in San Bernardino County. The county includes densely developed cities in its southwestern areas, High Desert population centers, mountain communities, and smaller communities extending across a large geographic area. Two cities with similar populations can therefore have very different development patterns, transportation needs, housing characteristics, and access to local services.
The smallest incorporated communities by population are Big Bear Lake and Needles, with estimated populations of 4,920 and 4,796 respectively. At the other end of the ranking, San Bernardino and Fontana each have more than 200,000 residents. These differences illustrate the wide range of community sizes found within the same county.
Understanding the Population Figures
The figures on this page are population estimates rather than a new census count. The California Department of Finance produces annual city and county population estimates that incorporate 2020 Census counts and updated population and housing data. The January 1, 2026 figures are provisional and may be revised in later population reports.
Population figures are useful for comparing the relative size of communities, but they should not be used by themselves to determine jurisdiction, eligibility, service availability, or which government office should be contacted. For a specific public-service need, identify the address or community involved and confirm whether the responsible agency is the city, San Bernardino County, the Superior Court, or another public agency.