Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 13 of 22 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
Yuma
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,404 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 107°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
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $1094k less ($186,500 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $1039/mo less ($1,028 vs $2,067)
34% less violent crime than Berkeley
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $45,404/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.5%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$45,404
$104,716 vs $59,312/yr
Berkeley
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Violent Crime
34% lower
423.6 vs 638.8 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$1094k less
$186,500 vs $1,280,300
Yuma
Summer Heat
32.5°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 32.5 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yuma leads 13 of 22 categories. Berkeley wins 9 and Yuma wins 13. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $186,500 median home), income ($104,716 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Yuma, AZ are about 574 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.