What are the schools like in Berkeley, MO?

Berkeley is served primarily by FERGUSON-FLORISSANT R-II. The district operates 13 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.7:1.

What is the median household income in Berkeley?

The median household income in Berkeley, MO is $37,757 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.1%.

What is the weather like in Berkeley, MO?

Berkeley has an average high temperature of 40.4°F in January and 89.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 16.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Berkeley, MO affordable or expensive?

Berkeley's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Berkeley is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $71,500 and the median rent is $1,034 per month.

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

Berkeley has a violent crime rate of 2534.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 6474.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Berkeley, MO a Good Place to Live?

Berkeley is a small town of 8,232 in Missouri, with a median household income of $37,757 and a 4.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Berkeley stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. 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: 96.3

Berkeley's overall cost of living index is 96.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Berkeley costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Berkeley, MO	National Avg
Median Home Value	$71,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,034	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	47.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$37,757	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Berkeley's violent crime rate is 2534.5 per 100,000 residents — 567% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

2534.5 /100k

Property Crime

6474.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Berkeley is served primarily by FERGUSON-FLORISSANT R-II. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Berkeley, MO	National Avg
School District	FERGUSON-FLORISSANT R-II	—
Elementary Schools	13	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	12.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Berkeley sees average highs of 40.4°F in January and 89.6°F in July, with 41.3 inches of annual precipitation and 16.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Berkeley, MO
Average High — January	40.4°F
Average High — July	89.6°F
Annual Precipitation	41.3"
Annual Snowfall	16.6"

Demographics

Metric	Berkeley, MO	National Avg
Population	8,232	—
Median Age	31.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	7.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	85.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.5%	6.3%
Under 18	31.7%	22.2%
65 and over	13.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Kinloch, MO 1 mi Edmundson, MO 2 mi Woodson Terrace, MO 2 mi Calverton Park, MO 2 mi Ferguson, MO 2 mi

ZIP Codes in Berkeley

Berkeley, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code:

63134

Berkeley vs Other Cities

Berkeley, MO vs Kinloch, MO Berkeley, MO vs Edmundson, MO Berkeley, MO vs Woodson Terrace, MO Berkeley, MO vs Calverton Park, MO Berkeley, MO vs Ferguson, MO

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Berkeley, MO affordable or expensive?

Berkeley's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Berkeley roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $71,500 and median rent is $1,034/month.

What is the crime rate in Berkeley, MO?

Berkeley's violent crime rate is 2534.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 6474.3 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 FERGUSON-FLORISSANT R-II. The district has 13 elementary, 5 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. 12.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Berkeley, MO a good place to live?

Berkeley, MO has a population of 8,232, a median household income of $37,757, and an unemployment rate of 4.1%. 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 Berkeley?

Berkeley averages 40.4°F in January and 89.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.3 inches with about 16.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Berkeley?

Berkeley, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 63134.

What is the population of Berkeley?

The population of Berkeley, Missouri is 8,232 with a median age of 31.5. 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 96 (100 = US average), median home $71,500, median household income $37,757, crime index 400 (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.