Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Chino, CA
🏆 Chino leads 12 of 21 categories
Berkeley
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385 ✓ Larger
Chino
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,385
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
91,008
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 94°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $5,331 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (5229.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Chino, CA
Pros
Homes cost $681k less ($599,200 vs $1,280,300)
53% less violent crime than Berkeley
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 59°F
Cons
Longer commutes — 34.2 min average each way
Median income trails Berkeley by $5,331/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$5,331
$104,716 vs $99,385/yr
Chino
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Chino
Violent Crime
53% lower
299.5 vs 638.8 per 100k
Chino
Median Home Value
$681k less
$599,200 vs $1,280,300
Chino
Summer Heat
19.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.7°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Chino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $599,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $2,001⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $99,385 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 34.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 13.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 28.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Chino Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 93.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 ✓ Larger | 91,008 |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 63.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 12.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Chino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Chino is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Chino leads 12 of 21 categories. Berkeley wins 9 and Chino wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Berkeley to Chino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $599,200 median home), income ($104,716 vs $99,385), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Chino, CA are about 374 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.