What are the schools like in Berkeley, IL?

Berkeley is served primarily by Berkeley SD 87. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.5:1.

What is the median household income in Berkeley?

The median household income in Berkeley, IL is $79,691 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.6%.

What is the weather like in Berkeley, IL?

Berkeley has an average high temperature of 31.6°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 42.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Berkeley, IL affordable or expensive?

Berkeley's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Berkeley is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $214,300 and the median rent is $979 per month.

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

Berkeley has a violent crime rate of 79.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 618.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Berkeley, IL a Good Place to Live?

Berkeley is a small town of 5,283 in Illinois, with a median household income of $79,691 and a 5.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Berkeley stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include 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: 102.6

Berkeley's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Berkeley costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Berkeley, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$214,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$979	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	91.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$79,691	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Berkeley's violent crime rate is 79.8 per 100,000 residents — 79% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

79.8 /100k

Property Crime

618.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Berkeley is served primarily by Berkeley SD 87. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Berkeley, IL	National Avg
School District	Berkeley SD 87	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Berkeley sees average highs of 31.6°F in January and 84.5°F in July, with 38.6 inches of annual precipitation and 42.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Berkeley, IL
Average High — January	31.6°F
Average High — July	84.5°F
Annual Precipitation	38.6"
Annual Snowfall	42.3"

Demographics

Metric	Berkeley, IL	National Avg
Population	5,283	—
Median Age	40.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	33.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	41.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	25.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	30.7%	18.9%
Asian	1.7%	6.3%
Under 18	22.5%	22.2%
65 and over	16.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hillside, IL 2 mi Elmhurst, IL 2 mi Northlake, IL 2 mi Stone Park, IL 2 mi Bellwood, IL 2 mi

ZIP Codes in Berkeley

Berkeley, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60163

Berkeley vs Other Cities

Berkeley, IL vs Hillside, IL Berkeley, IL vs Elmhurst, IL Berkeley, IL vs Northlake, IL Berkeley, IL vs Stone Park, IL Berkeley, IL vs Bellwood, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Berkeley, IL affordable or expensive?

Berkeley's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Berkeley roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $214,300 and median rent is $979/month.

What is the crime rate in Berkeley, IL?

Berkeley's violent crime rate is 79.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 618.1 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 SD 87. The district has 4 elementary, 2 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.5:1. 22.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Berkeley, IL a good place to live?

Berkeley, IL has a population of 5,283, a median household income of $79,691, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%. 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 31.6°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.6 inches with about 42.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Berkeley?

Berkeley, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60163.

What is the population of Berkeley?

The population of Berkeley, Illinois is 5,283 with a median age of 40.7. 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 103 (100 = US average), median home $214,300, median household income $79,691, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. 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.