Population 13,836 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of North Berkeley: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in North Berkeley
Household size in North Berkeley
| Period | North Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.17 | 2.24 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.12 | 2.29 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.44 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.05 | 2.33 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.12 | +0.09 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in North Berkeley are small: just 2.05 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.17 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. North Berkeley has the smallest households of any Berkeley neighborhood.
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 North Berkeley
| Period | North Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.0 | 35.8 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 31.4 | 35.4 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 32.9 | 35.9 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.0 | 37.5 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +1.7 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 35.0, North Berkeley is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 33.0, in line with the national trend.
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 North Berkeley
| Period | North Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.3% | 6.8% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.4% | 6.4% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 6.0% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 5.4% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in North Berkeley: 3.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.3 points, in line with the national trend. North Berkeley has the lowest share of single-parent households of any Berkeley neighborhood.
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 North Berkeley
Renters in North Berkeley
| Period | North Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 67.6% | 54.1% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 67.1% | 55.7% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 62.2% | 54.6% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 67.5% | 53.4% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −0.7 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in North Berkeley rent: 67.5% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 42.0% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the south; owners are most common in the northwest.
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 North Berkeley
| Period | North Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 8.5% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 8.4% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 8.9% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.3% | 13.2% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +4.7 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
More homes sit empty in North Berkeley than nationally: 13.3%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has risen 7.0 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 North Berkeley
| Period | North Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1943 | 1946 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1946 | 1949 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1946 | 1949 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1946 | 1953 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +7 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in North Berkeley is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1946, 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 1943 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the northwest.
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 North Berkeley
| Period | North Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,478 | $1,305 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,547 | $1,432 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,852 | $1,846 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,210 | $2,378 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$732 | +$1,073 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in North Berkeley pays $2,210 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in Berkeley overall ($2,378). Rent has climbed $732 a month since 2006–10, up 50%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 36.0% of the typical renter's income, 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 North Berkeley
Bachelor's degrees in North Berkeley
| Period | North Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.7% | 68.9% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 79.5% | 69.9% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 82.7% | 73.5% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 79.5% | 74.8% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +5.9 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
North Berkeley is highly educated: about eight in ten adults 25 and older (79.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the east.
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 North Berkeley
| Period | North Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 97.7% | 94.7% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.9% | 95.6% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.9% | 96.5% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.7% | 96.1% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | +1.4 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in North Berkeley: 95.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Berkeley. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has fallen 2.0 points, even as the national rate rose.
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 North Berkeley
| Period | North Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 7.1% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 5.8% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 5.9% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in North Berkeley than nationally: unemployment was 4.4%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 1.6 points, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
North Berkeley compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Berkeley | 2.05 | 35.0 | 3.0% | 67.5% | 13.3% | 1946 | $2,210 | 79.5% | 95.7% | 4.4% |
| Downtown Berkeley | 2.10 | 26.8 | 3.4% | 95.5% | 20.1% | 1966 | $2,059 | 64.8% | 98.6% | 5.0% |
| Berkeley Hills | 2.54 | 49.2 | 6.2% | 13.4% | 6.0% | 1942 | $2,914 | 87.7% | 98.6% | 3.9% |
| Central Berkeley | 2.14 | 38.2 | 7.0% | 61.3% | 11.6% | 1951 | $2,197 | 74.2% | 95.1% | 5.4% |
| South Berkeley | 2.25 | 30.0 | 4.3% | 68.4% | 15.5% | 1958 | $2,101 | 69.5% | 95.6% | 8.5% |
| Elmwood | 2.51 | 27.1 | 4.1% | 70.0% | 21.6% | 1958 | $2,127 | 78.9% | 98.3% | 9.1% |
| Westbrae | 2.52 | 42.9 | 7.9% | 37.3% | 8.9% | 1944 | $2,550 | 77.4% | 97.1% | 3.6% |
| Thousand Oaks | 2.24 | 56.8 | 4.9% | 14.7% | 2.8% | 1938 | $2,287 | 88.1% | 98.5% | 3.9% |
| Northwest Berkeley | 2.29 | 46.9 | 5.4% | 44.2% | 16.1% | 1948 | $2,412 | 65.0% | 93.1% | 3.9% |
| SouthWest Berkeley | 2.28 | 40.4 | 7.1% | 57.8% | 11.1% | 1955 | $2,187 | 58.5% | 91.5% | 5.1% |
| Santa Fe | 2.56 | 33.1 | 12.8% | 67.5% | 12.4% | 1950 | $2,213 | 59.8% | 88.9% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Harrowgate, Philadelphia, PA · Valley View, Henderson, NV · U Street Corridor, Washington, DC · Tuttle West, Dublin, OH · Town 'N Country Park, Town 'n' Country, FL · Tottenville, Staten Island, NY · Tennyson-Alquire, Hayward, CA · Koolauloa, Laie, HI · Highland Creek, Charlotte, NC · Heron Walk, Madison, TN
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 North 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.