Berkeley, California
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Berkeley.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Berkeley?
Berkeley planning snapshot: population 121,749, housing index 302 (well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $1,351,100, median rent $2,127, and income near $108,558. Expect 72°F summer highs, 43°F winter lows, and about 30-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 503.3 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 302U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $1,351,100U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $2,127U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $108,558U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.6%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 30 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 503.3per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 72°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Berkeley compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 121,749City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $108,558Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year38% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 302ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year202% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $1,351,100City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year345% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $2,127City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year58% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.6%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 30 min20% above U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 8078% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 503.3annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)14% below U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 5095annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)65% above U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 72°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals15.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 43°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals9.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 18.7 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals43% below U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 297As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals11% above U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Berkeley grew 7.8% from 112,889 in 2010 to 121,749 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Berkeley expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Compared with the U.S. average, Berkeley runs 202 points higher on MapsToIt's ACS housing index. Use that single number as a quick filter, then dig into home and rent cells for the budget you actually need.
- Housing cost index 302 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $1,351,100 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $2,127 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Berkeley?
Budget first around $2,127/month rent or $1,351,100 purchase prices — both are MapsToIt ACS medians, not listing ask averages. National ACS medians are $1,348 rent and $303,400 home value for context.
- Median home value $1,351,100
- Median rent $2,127/month
- Median household income $108,558
What is the job market like in Berkeley?
Labor-market context for Berkeley: unemployment 4.6% and median income $108,558. Those are BLS LAUS (county) and ACS figures — industry mix still matters more than the headline rate alone.
- Unemployment 4.6% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $108,558
How long is the typical commute in Berkeley?
Plan on roughly 30 minutes each way in Berkeley. Walk Score estimates around 80 shape how car-dependent daily errands feel. Compare that with the 25-minute catalog average before you lock a neighborhood.
- 30 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 80/100
Is Berkeley safer than similar U.S. cities?
Berkeley's FBI-derived violent rate (~503.3/100k) sits below the average of mapped MapsToIt cities. Use the figure as a screening signal, then verify the blocks you would actually live on.
- Violent 503.3 per 100k
- Property 5095 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Berkeley?
Berkeley's climate profile: 72°F summer peaks, 43°F winter mornings, 18.7" annual rainfall, and 297 sunny days — from the nearest NOAA normals station.
- Summer high 72°F
- Winter low 43°F
- 18.7 in rain · 297 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in Berkeley?
Downtown is the name relocators hear first; compare it with North Berkeley and Telegraph once you know your job location.
- Downtown
- North Berkeley
- Telegraph
Pacific weather, wildfire seasons, and housing scarcity dominate relocation tradeoffs. Roughly 297 sunny days a year give outdoor routines unusual calendar reliability. Average one-way commute time is about 30 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 80/100. Labor-market readings near 4.6% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates near 503.3 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
About 121,749 people live in Berkeley, CA. With median income around $108,558 and a cost index of 302, the market reads well above the national housing-cost baseline. Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $1,351,100 push many newcomers toward renting first.
If you only tour one corridor, make it Downtown; if you have a weekend, contrast it with North Berkeley and the quieter edges near Telegraph. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Berkeley with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Downtown
- North Berkeley
- Telegraph
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Berkeley city, 1600000US0606000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Alameda County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00023230 OAKLAND METRO INTL AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10