Population 19,317 · 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 South Berkeley: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in South Berkeley
Household size in South Berkeley
| Period | South Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.17 | 2.24 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.25 | 2.29 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.44 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.25 | 2.33 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | +0.09 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
South Berkeley is a place of small households, averaging 2.25 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.17, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southwest.
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 South Berkeley
| Period | South Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.9 | 35.8 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 29.4 | 35.4 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 29.3 | 35.9 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 30.0 | 37.5 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.1 | +1.7 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
South Berkeley is young: half of its residents are under 30.0, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Of Berkeley's 12 neighborhoods, only two are younger.
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 South Berkeley
| Period | South Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 6.8% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 6.4% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 6.0% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 5.4% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 4.3% of households in South Berkeley, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 4.6 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 South Berkeley
Renters in South Berkeley
| Period | South Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.5% | 54.1% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 75.1% | 55.7% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 75.2% | 54.6% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 68.4% | 53.4% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.1 pts | −0.7 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in South Berkeley rent: 68.4% 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, 50.7% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 5.1 points, 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 South Berkeley
| Period | South Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 8.5% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 8.4% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 8.9% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.5% | 13.2% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +4.7 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in South Berkeley: 15.5% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is up 5.4 points from 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 South Berkeley
| Period | South Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1946 | 1946 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1950 | 1949 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1951 | 1949 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1958 | 1953 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +13 | +7 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
South Berkeley is a place of older homes: half were built before 1958, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Even so, homes here are newer than in Berkeley as a whole, where the median home dates to 1953. Few Berkeley neighborhoods have newer homes: only two of 12.
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 South Berkeley
| Period | South Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,106 | $1,305 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,258 | $1,432 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,569 | $1,846 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,101 | $2,378 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$995 | +$1,073 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in South Berkeley runs $2,101 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are lower than in Berkeley as a whole ($2,378). Rent has climbed $995 a month since 2006–10, up 90%, faster than rents rose nationally. Only one other Berkeley neighborhood has lower rents.
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 South Berkeley
Bachelor's degrees in South Berkeley
| Period | South Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 66.0% | 68.9% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 62.5% | 69.9% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 68.7% | 73.5% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 69.5% | 74.8% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +5.9 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
South Berkeley is highly educated: about seven in ten adults 25 and older (69.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Locally, though, the share is lower than in Berkeley overall (74.8%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 3.5 points, as it has nationally.
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 South Berkeley
| Period | South Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.5% | 94.7% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.2% | 95.6% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.7% | 96.5% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.6% | 96.1% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +1.4 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in South Berkeley: 95.6% 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. The share with a diploma is up 3.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 South Berkeley
| Period | South Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.6% | 7.1% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 5.8% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 5.9% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in South Berkeley: 8.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Only one other Berkeley neighborhood has higher unemployment. 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).
South 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Berkeley | 2.25 | 30.0 | 4.3% | 68.4% | 15.5% | 1958 | $2,101 | 69.5% | 95.6% | 8.5% |
| Downtown Berkeley | 2.10 | 26.8 | 3.4% | 95.5% | 20.1% | 1966 | $2,059 | 64.8% | 98.6% | 5.0% |
| Elmwood | 2.51 | 27.1 | 4.1% | 70.0% | 21.6% | 1958 | $2,127 | 78.9% | 98.3% | 9.1% |
| Central Berkeley | 2.14 | 38.2 | 7.0% | 61.3% | 11.6% | 1951 | $2,197 | 74.2% | 95.1% | 5.4% |
| Bushrod | 2.30 | 36.8 | 8.8% | 58.4% | 7.1% | 1941 | $2,288 | 71.0% | 95.8% | 5.8% |
| Fairview Park | 2.52 | 37.8 | 10.4% | 49.8% | 11.4% | 1939 | $2,571 | 79.3% | 97.5% | 2.8% |
| SouthWest Berkeley | 2.28 | 40.4 | 7.1% | 57.8% | 11.1% | 1955 | $2,187 | 58.5% | 91.5% | 5.1% |
| North Berkeley | 2.05 | 35.0 | 3.0% | 67.5% | 13.3% | 1946 | $2,210 | 79.5% | 95.7% | 4.4% |
| Paradise Park | 2.36 | 38.8 | 11.9% | 58.1% | 6.6% | 1955 | $1,948 | 63.0% | 94.2% | 2.5% |
| Santa Fe | 2.56 | 33.1 | 12.8% | 67.5% | 12.4% | 1950 | $2,213 | 59.8% | 88.9% | 4.5% |
| Golden Gate | 2.37 | 37.6 | 12.2% | 57.0% | 10.0% | 1958 | $2,430 | 67.3% | 95.4% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Tule Springs, Las Vegas, NV · East Garfield Park, Chicago, IL · East Sacramento, Sacramento, CA · Green Valley Ranch, Henderson, NV · Heights, Billings, MT · Jefferson, Cleveland, OH · Lakeview, Stockton, CA · Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, WA · Queen Anne, Seattle, WA · South Boston, Boston, MA
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 South 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.