Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Shreveport leads 12 of 23 categories
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
Shreveport
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $58,749 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Shreveport
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Cost of living runs 31% higher than Shreveport
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $1111k less ($168,900 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $1122/mo less ($945 vs $2,067)
31% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $58,749/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$58,749
$104,716 vs $45,967/yr
Berkeley
Violent Crime
48% lower
638.8 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Berkeley
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
31% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$1111k less
$168,900 vs $1,280,300
Shreveport
Summer Heat
20.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 58.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 186,183 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 31% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Shreveport leads 12 of 23 categories. Berkeley wins 11 and Shreveport 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $168,900 median home), income ($104,716 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Shreveport, LA are about 1,646 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.