Population 126,256 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Berkeley
Household size in Berkeley
| Period | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.24 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.29 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.44 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.33 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.09 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Berkeley is a place of small households, averaging 2.33 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has climbed from 2.24 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Only 57 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Berkeley
| Period | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.8 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.4 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.9 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.5 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Berkeley is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.5, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 35.8 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the northwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Berkeley
| Period | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.4% of households in Berkeley, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.3 points, as it has nationally. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 60 have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Berkeley
Renters in Berkeley
| Period | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 54.1% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 55.7% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 54.6% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 53.4% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Berkeley: 53.4% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Just over four in ten owners (42.6%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the north. The renter share is down 0.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Berkeley
| Period | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.2% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Berkeley: 13.2% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has risen 4.7 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Berkeley
| Period | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1946 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1949 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1949 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1953 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Berkeley is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1953, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1946 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the north. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 13 have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Berkeley
| Period | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,305 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,432 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,846 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,378 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,073 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Berkeley pays $2,378 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in the wider San Francisco area ($2,666). Rents are up $1,073 a month from 2006–10, an 82% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 34.0% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Berkeley
Bachelor's degrees in Berkeley
| Period | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 68.9% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 69.9% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 73.5% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 74.8% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Berkeley is highly educated: about three-quarters of adults 25 and older (74.8%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.9 points, in line with the national trend. Only 31 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Berkeley
| Period | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.7% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.6% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.5% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.1% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Berkeley: 96.1% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 1.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Berkeley has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five California cities.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Berkeley
| Period | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Berkeley is close to the national rate: 5.9% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Berkeley compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley | 2.33 | 37.5 | 5.4% | 53.4% | 13.2% | 1953 | $2,378 | 74.8% | 96.1% | 5.9% |
| Albany | 2.44 | 39.7 | 6.3% | 46.0% | 6.7% | 1959 | $2,608 | 78.1% | 97.7% | 3.3% |
| Emeryville | 2.20 | 36.0 | 11.2% | 68.9% | 11.1% | 1965 | $2,440 | 61.7% | 94.6% | 7.1% |
| Orinda Village | 2.66 | 50.3 | 8.5% | 6.5% | 7.1% | 1989 | $3,347 | 76.0% | 97.7% | 4.0% |
| El Cerrito | 2.40 | 42.7 | 7.7% | 40.5% | 3.9% | 1959 | $2,910 | 67.4% | 96.2% | 6.0% |
| Piedmont | 2.75 | 45.5 | 6.8% | 14.0% | 6.6% | 1942 | $2,644 | 87.9% | 98.8% | 2.0% |
| Orinda | 2.74 | 48.0 | 4.7% | 10.1% | 3.5% | 1965 | $2,489 | 84.9% | 98.2% | 3.6% |
| Richmond | 3.04 | 37.4 | 15.6% | 45.9% | 6.1% | 1962 | $1,926 | 28.2% | 75.0% | 8.2% |
| Canyon | 2.39 | 44.2 | 4.8% | 7.0% | 4.1% | 1970 | $3,267 | 83.1% | 98.9% | 3.9% |
| Oakland | 2.62 | 38.7 | 12.8% | 57.9% | 8.1% | 1958 | $2,124 | 45.9% | 82.9% | 6.5% |
| El Sobrante | 2.92 | 42.5 | 11.1% | 26.2% | 7.8% | 1970 | $2,563 | 42.4% | 92.4% | 5.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: San Francisco, CA · Santa Maria, CA · Queens, NY · Pharr, TX · Racine, WI · Philadelphia, PA · Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Pleasanton, CA · Plainfield, IL · Portsmouth, VA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Berkeley. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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