What are the schools like in Alameda, CA?

Alameda is served primarily by Alameda Unified. The district operates 9 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 23.5:1.

What is the median household income in Alameda?

The median household income in Alameda, CA is $129,917 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.

What is the weather like in Alameda, CA?

Alameda has an average high temperature of 57.7°F in January and 71.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 18.7 inches.

Alameda, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Alameda, CA affordable or expensive?

Alameda's cost of living index is 116, where 100 represents the national average. This means Alameda is 16% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $1,147,600 and the median rent is $2,301 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Alameda, CA?

Alameda has a violent crime rate of 317.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 4914.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Alameda, CA a Good Place to Live?

Alameda is a mid-sized city of 77,565 in California, with a median household income of $129,917 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 116 (US average = 100), which is 16% above the national average.

Strengths: Alameda stands out for solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, a higher-than-average crime index, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Alameda is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Alameda city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 116.3

Alameda's overall cost of living index is 116.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Alameda costs roughly 16% more than the average American city.

Metric	Alameda, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$1,147,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,301	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	48.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$129,917	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Alameda's violent crime rate is 317.0 per 100,000 residents — 17% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

317.0 /100k

Property Crime

4914.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Alameda is served primarily by Alameda Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23.5:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Alameda, CA	National Avg
School District	Alameda Unified	—
Elementary Schools	9	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	23.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	59.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Alameda sees average highs of 57.7°F in January and 71.6°F in July, with 18.7 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Alameda, CA
Average High — January	57.7°F
Average High — July	71.6°F
Annual Precipitation	18.7"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Alameda, CA	National Avg
Population	77,565	—
Median Age	40.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	33.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	44.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	6.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.0%	18.9%
Asian	31.4%	6.3%
Under 18	21.4%	22.2%
65 and over	17.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Oakland, CA 3 mi Piedmont, CA 6 mi San Leandro, CA 6 mi Emeryville, CA 7 mi Brisbane, CA 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Alameda

Alameda, CA is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

94501 94502

Alameda vs Other Cities

Alameda, CA vs Oakland, CA Alameda, CA vs Piedmont, CA Alameda, CA vs San Leandro, CA Alameda, CA vs Emeryville, CA Alameda, CA vs Brisbane, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alameda, CA affordable or expensive?

Alameda's cost of living index is 116, where 100 is the national average. That puts Alameda roughly 16% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $1,147,600 and median rent is $2,301/month.

What is the crime rate in Alameda, CA?

Alameda's violent crime rate is 317.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4914.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Alameda?

Public schools in Alameda are operated by Alameda Unified. The district has 9 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23.5:1. 59.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Alameda, CA a good place to live?

Alameda, CA has a population of 77,565, a median household income of $129,917, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Alameda?

Alameda averages 57.7°F in January and 71.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 18.7 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Alameda?

Alameda, CA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 94501, 94502.

What is the population of Alameda?

The population of Alameda, California is 77,565 with a median age of 40.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Alameda?

Key numbers for living in Alameda: cost of living index 116 (100 = US average), median home $1,147,600, median household income $129,917, crime index 144 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Alameda side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.