Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Midland leads 14 of 23 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
Midland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
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
Households earn $14,268 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 95°F
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
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Midland
Midland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1000k less ($280,700 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $667/mo less ($1,400 vs $2,067)
43% less violent crime than Berkeley
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $14,268/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$14,268
$104,716 vs $90,448/yr
Midland
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Violent Crime
43% lower
364.9 vs 638.8 per 100k
Midland
Median Home Value
$1000k less
$280,700 vs $1,280,300
Midland
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
21.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $280,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $90,448 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 84.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 132,490 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 14 of 23 categories. Berkeley wins 9 and Midland wins 14. 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $280,700 median home), income ($104,716 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Midland, TX are about 1,209 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.