What are the schools like in Berkeley, CA?

Berkeley is served primarily by Berkeley Unified. The district operates 12 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 19.1:1.

What is the median household income in Berkeley?

The median household income in Berkeley, CA is $104,716 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.5%.

What is the weather like in Berkeley, CA?

Berkeley has an average high temperature of 58.9°F in January and 74.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 26.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Berkeley, CA affordable or expensive?

Berkeley's cost of living index is 118, where 100 represents the national average. This means Berkeley is 18% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $1,280,300 and the median rent is $2,067 per month.

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

Berkeley has a violent crime rate of 638.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 5229.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Berkeley, CA a Good Place to Live?

Berkeley is a mid-sized city of 121,385 in California, with a median household income of $104,716 and a 5.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 118 (US average = 100), which is 18% above the national average.

Strengths: Berkeley stands out for solid school ratings (A-), 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 Berkeley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Berkeley 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: 118.2

Berkeley's overall cost of living index is 118.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Berkeley costs roughly 18% more than the average American city.

Metric	Berkeley, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$1,280,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,067	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	43.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$104,716	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Berkeley's violent crime rate is 638.8 per 100,000 residents — 68% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

638.8 /100k

Property Crime

5229.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Berkeley is served primarily by Berkeley Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Berkeley, CA	National Avg
School District	Berkeley Unified	—
Elementary Schools	12	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	19.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	73.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Berkeley sees average highs of 58.9°F in January and 74.2°F in July, with 26.1 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Berkeley, CA
Average High — January	58.9°F
Average High — July	74.2°F
Annual Precipitation	26.1"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Berkeley, CA	National Avg
Population	121,385	—
Median Age	32.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	30.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	55.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	7.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	8.6%	18.9%
Asian	20.8%	6.3%
Under 18	12.2%	22.2%
65 and over	15.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Emeryville, CA 2 mi Albany, CA 2 mi Kensington, CA 3 mi El Cerrito, CA 4 mi Piedmont, CA 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Berkeley

Berkeley, CA is covered by 8 ZIP codes:

94710 94708 94703 94702 94707 94704 94709 94720

Berkeley vs Other Cities

Berkeley, CA vs Emeryville, CA Berkeley, CA vs Albany, CA Berkeley, CA vs Kensington, CA Berkeley, CA vs El Cerrito, CA Berkeley, CA vs Piedmont, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Berkeley, CA affordable or expensive?

Berkeley's cost of living index is 118, where 100 is the national average. That puts Berkeley roughly 18% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $1,280,300 and median rent is $2,067/month.

What is the crime rate in Berkeley, CA?

Berkeley's violent crime rate is 638.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 5229.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Berkeley?

Public schools in Berkeley are operated by Berkeley Unified. The district has 12 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.1:1. 73.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Berkeley, CA a good place to live?

Berkeley, CA has a population of 121,385, a median household income of $104,716, and an unemployment rate of 5.5%. 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 Berkeley?

Berkeley averages 58.9°F in January and 74.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.1 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Berkeley?

Berkeley, CA is covered by 8 ZIP codes: 94710, 94708, 94703, 94702, 94707, 94704, 94709, 94720.

What is the population of Berkeley?

The population of Berkeley, California is 121,385 with a median age of 32.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Berkeley?

Key numbers for living in Berkeley: cost of living index 118 (100 = US average), median home $1,280,300, median household income $104,716, crime index 200 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Berkeley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.