Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Berkeley
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,385
Fresno
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,715 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.5%)
13% less violent crime than Fresno
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 98°F
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)
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $959k less ($321,800 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $840/mo less ($1,227 vs $2,067)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $41,715/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$41,715
$104,716 vs $63,001/yr
Berkeley
Violent Crime
13% lower
638.8 vs 735.5 per 100k
Berkeley
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fresno
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$959k less
$321,800 vs $1,280,300
Fresno
Summer Heat
23.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $63,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 156⚠ 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 | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Fresno 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" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 541,528 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 ✓ Older | 32.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Berkeley wins 11 and Fresno wins 11. 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 Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $321,800 median home), income ($104,716 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Fresno, CA are about 157 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.