Population 16,629 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in SouthWest Berkeley
Household size in SouthWest Berkeley
| Period | SouthWest Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.33 | 2.24 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.27 | 2.29 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.39 | 2.44 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.28 | 2.33 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | +0.09 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in SouthWest Berkeley are small: just 2.28 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 edged down from 2.33 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 SouthWest Berkeley
| Period | SouthWest Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.5 | 35.8 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.8 | 35.4 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.5 | 35.9 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.4 | 37.5 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.9 | +1.7 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
At 40.4, the median age in SouthWest Berkeley is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is older than in Berkeley overall, where the median age is 37.5. The median age has climbed from 37.5 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 SouthWest Berkeley
| Period | SouthWest Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 6.8% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 6.4% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.0% | 6.0% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 5.4% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in SouthWest Berkeley: 7.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Locally, though, single parents are more common here than in Berkeley as a whole (5.4%). The single-parent share is down 2.0 points from 2006–10, 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 SouthWest Berkeley
Renters in SouthWest Berkeley
| Period | SouthWest Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 57.8% | 54.1% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 60.7% | 55.7% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 60.0% | 54.6% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 57.8% | 53.4% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | −0.7 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in SouthWest Berkeley rent: 57.8% 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, 30.7% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%.
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 SouthWest Berkeley
| Period | SouthWest Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 8.5% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 8.4% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 8.9% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.1% | 13.2% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +4.7 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in SouthWest Berkeley than nationally: 11.1%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Still, the rate is lower than in Berkeley overall (13.2%).
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 SouthWest Berkeley
| Period | SouthWest Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1944 | 1946 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1948 | 1949 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1951 | 1949 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1955 | 1953 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +7 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
SouthWest Berkeley is a place of older homes: half were built before 1955, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1944 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 SouthWest Berkeley
| Period | SouthWest Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,050 | $1,305 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,220 | $1,432 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,473 | $1,846 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,187 | $2,378 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,136 | +$1,073 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in SouthWest Berkeley costs $2,187 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in Berkeley overall ($2,378). Rent has climbed $1,136 a month since 2006–10, up 108%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 35.0% 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 SouthWest Berkeley
Bachelor's degrees in SouthWest Berkeley
| Period | SouthWest Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.7% | 68.9% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 54.9% | 69.9% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 58.5% | 73.5% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 58.5% | 74.8% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.8 pts | +5.9 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
SouthWest Berkeley is highly educated: about six in ten adults 25 and older (58.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Still, the share is lower than in Berkeley as a whole (74.8%). The share with a degree has risen 8.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. No other Berkeley neighborhood has a lower 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 SouthWest Berkeley
| Period | SouthWest Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.9% | 94.7% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.4% | 95.6% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.5% | 96.5% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.5% | 96.1% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +1.4 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in SouthWest Berkeley is a bit above the national rate: 91.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Locally, though, the rate is lower than in Berkeley overall (96.1%). No other Berkeley neighborhood has a lower share of high school graduates.
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 SouthWest Berkeley
| Period | SouthWest Berkeley | Berkeley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 7.1% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 5.8% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 5.9% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in SouthWest Berkeley is close to the national rate: 5.1% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in Berkeley overall (5.9%). Unemployment is down 3.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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).
SouthWest 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Central Berkeley | 2.14 | 38.2 | 7.0% | 61.3% | 11.6% | 1951 | $2,197 | 74.2% | 95.1% | 5.4% |
| Downtown Berkeley | 2.10 | 26.8 | 3.4% | 95.5% | 20.1% | 1966 | $2,059 | 64.8% | 98.6% | 5.0% |
| South Berkeley | 2.25 | 30.0 | 4.3% | 68.4% | 15.5% | 1958 | $2,101 | 69.5% | 95.6% | 8.5% |
| Northwest Berkeley | 2.29 | 46.9 | 5.4% | 44.2% | 16.1% | 1948 | $2,412 | 65.0% | 93.1% | 3.9% |
| Paradise Park | 2.36 | 38.8 | 11.9% | 58.1% | 6.6% | 1955 | $1,948 | 63.0% | 94.2% | 2.5% |
| Westbrae | 2.52 | 42.9 | 7.9% | 37.3% | 8.9% | 1944 | $2,550 | 77.4% | 97.1% | 3.6% |
| Golden Gate | 2.37 | 37.6 | 12.2% | 57.0% | 10.0% | 1958 | $2,430 | 67.3% | 95.4% | 3.0% |
| Bushrod | 2.30 | 36.8 | 8.8% | 58.4% | 7.1% | 1941 | $2,288 | 71.0% | 95.8% | 5.8% |
| North Berkeley | 2.05 | 35.0 | 3.0% | 67.5% | 13.3% | 1946 | $2,210 | 79.5% | 95.7% | 4.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Girard Estates, Philadelphia, PA · Lake View, Paterson, NJ · Kamms Corner, Cleveland, OH · Hamilton Area, Baltimore, MD · Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco, CA · Group 14621, Rochester, NY · Great Northwest, San Antonio, TX · Great Kills, Staten Island, NY · Glen Oaks, Queens, NY · Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA
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 SouthWest 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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