Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Clovis, CA
🏆 Clovis leads 12 of 22 categories
Berkeley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385 ✓ Larger
Clovis
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,554
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
120,607
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
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 98°F
Households earn $6,162 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
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)
Clovis, CA
Pros
Homes cost $860k less ($420,700 vs $1,280,300)
62% less violent crime than Berkeley
Rent averages $585/mo less ($1,482 vs $2,067)
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.5%)
Median income trails Berkeley by $6,162/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$6,162
$104,716 vs $98,554/yr
Berkeley
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Clovis
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 107.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Clovis
Violent Crime
62% lower
244.6 vs 638.8 per 100k
Clovis
Median Home Value
$860k less
$420,700 vs $1,280,300
Clovis
Summer Heat
23.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Clovis, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 107.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $420,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,482⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $98,554 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Clovis Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 55.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" | 14.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 ✓ Larger | 120,607 |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 28.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Clovis's 107.8 (US average = 100).
Clovis is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clovis leads 12 of 22 categories. Berkeley wins 10 and Clovis 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 Clovis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $420,700 median home), income ($104,716 vs $98,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Clovis, CA are about 160 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.