Housing data for Berkeley, CA
Berkeley, CA has an estimated 120,257 residents and 53,145 homes (US Census Bureau, 2020–2024 American Community Survey).
It is a city in Alameda County.
55.8% of households rent.
The median gross rent is $2,133 a month.
Its population shrank measurably since 2015–2019 (−1.0%).
Figures last updated on .
- Residents
- 120,257 (±59)
- Housing units
- 53,145 (±1,003)
- Households that rent
- 55.8%
- Median gross rent
- $2,133
- Residents since 2015–2019
- −1.0%
What stands out in Berkeley
Households without a vehicle: 20.7% (±1.5 points) in Berkeley, higher than in Alameda County (10.0%).
Commuting by public transportation: 12.4% (±1.1 points) in Berkeley, higher than in Alameda County (7.7%).
Median home value: $1,413,900 (±$43,756) in Berkeley, higher than in Alameda County ($1,090,100).
Working from home: 37.1% (±1.8 points) in Berkeley, higher than in Alameda County (25.7%).
Housing in Berkeley at a glance
- Median rent: $2,133 median gross rent a month
- Rent by bedrooms: $2,413 median gross rent, 2 bedrooms
- Rent burden: 55.7% of renters pay 30% or more of income
- Renters and owners: 55.8% of households rent
- Income and affordability: $108,092 median household income
- Home values: $1,413,900 median home value
- Homeowner costs: $4,000 or more median monthly cost with a mortgage
- Property taxes: $10,000 or more median real estate taxes a year
- Types of homes: 38.1% of homes are in buildings of 5 or more units
- Bedrooms: 35.7% of homes have 3 or more bedrooms
- Age of homes: 80.9% of homes were built before 1980
- Vacancy rate: 9.6% rental vacancy rate
- Heating fuel: 67.6% heat with utility gas
- Commute and cars: 27.8 minutes average trip to work
- Crime reported to police: 639 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
- Growth: −1.0% residents since 2015–2019
- How long people stay: 30.6% moved in since 2020
- Crowding and facilities: 3.8% of homes have more than 1 person per room
Berkeley against Alameda County, its state and the nation
| Berkeley | Alameda County | California | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 120,257 (±59) | 1,649,473 (exact) | 39,287,377 (exact) | 334,922,499 |
| Housing units | 53,145 (±1,003) | 637,212 (±385) | 14,644,735 (±1,665) | 143,775,355 |
| Households that rent | 55.8% (±1.6 points) | 45.6% (±0.5 points) | 44.1% (±0.2 points) | 34.8% |
| Median gross rent | $2,133 (±$65) | $2,357 (±$16) | $2,036 (±$5) | $1,413 |
| Median household income | $108,092 (±$5,765) | $129,367 (±$1,284) | $99,122 (±$310) | $80,734 |
| Median home value | $1,413,900 (±$43,756) | $1,090,100 (±$6,313) | $734,700 (±$1,307) | $332,700 |
| Median real estate taxes (a year) | $10,000 or more | $8,474 (±$77) | $5,124 (±$17) | $3,119 |
| Built before 1980 | 80.9% (±2.5 points) | 65.4% (±0.7 points) | 56.0% (±0.2 points) | 49.7% |
| Average commute | 27.8 minutes (±0.9) | 31.0 minutes (±0.2) | 28.7 minutes (±0.1) | 26.4 minutes |
| Households with broadband | 94.3% (±0.8 points) | 94.4% (±0.2 points) | 93.5% (±0.1 points) | 91.0% |
| Median age of residents | 33.2 years (±0.7) | 39.0 years (±0.2) | 37.9 years (±0.1) | 38.9 years |
Berkeley covers 10.4 square miles of land, about 11,528 residents per square mile (Census Bureau Gazetteer).
How Berkeley has changed since 2015–2019
| 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Amount of change | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 121,485 (±55) | 120,257 (±59) | −1.0% | Measurable decrease |
| Housing units | 48,674 (±860) | 53,145 (±1,003) | +9.2% | Measurable increase |
| Median gross rent | $1,722 (±$34) | $2,133 (±$65) | +23.9% | No measurable change after inflation |
| Median home value | $1,004,900 (±$20,279) | $1,413,900 (±$43,756) | +40.7% | Up after inflation |
| Median household income | $85,530 (±$3,424) | $108,092 (±$5,765) | +26.4% | No measurable change after inflation |
| Households that rent | 57.1% (±1.0 points) | 55.8% (±1.6 points) | −1.3 percentage points | Not a measurable change |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.4% (±0.7 points) | 9.6% (±1.5 points) | +7.2 percentage points | Measurable increase |
The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.
Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.
The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.
Crime reported to police in Berkeley
In 2025, the Berkeley Police Department reported 639 violent and 4,113 property crimes per 100,000 residents to the FBI.
Across Alameda County, the departments that report recorded 645 violent and 3,177 property crimes per 100,000 residents that year.
ZIP codes in Berkeley
| ZIP code | Share of the ZIP’s land in this place | Residents | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94702 | 100% | 17,635 | $2,094 | $1,202,100 | $99,775 |
| 94703 | 100% | 20,934 | $2,240 | $1,359,000 | $109,881 |
| 94709 | 100% | 12,146 | $2,042 | $1,375,000 | $89,054 |
| 94710 | 96% | 8,380 | $2,477 | $1,081,000 | $102,227 |
| 94704 | 95% | 23,788 | $1,937 | $906,100 | $50,129 |
| 94720 | 90% | 5,763 | $3,500 or more | $507,800 | — |
| 94707 | 63% | 12,811 | $2,429 | $1,649,300 | $212,776 |
| 94708 | 42% | 11,947 | $3,051 | $1,593,000 | $234,923 |
| 94705 | 32% | 13,991 | $2,441 | $1,992,800 | $167,970 |
A ZIP code is a mail route rather than a boundary, so the Census Bureau publishes figures for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas built from census blocks; the share column says how much of each one’s land lies in this place.
Places near Berkeley
| Place | Distance | Median gross rent | Median home value | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emeryville | 1.9 mi | $2,936 | $604,800 | 75.8% |
| Albany | 2.0 mi | $2,445 | $1,202,200 | 46.9% |
| Kensington | 2.8 mi | $3,500 or more | $1,539,000 | 13.2% |
| El Cerrito | 3.7 mi | $2,548 | $1,124,400 | 41.4% |
| Piedmont | 4.8 mi | $3,500 or more | $2,000,000 or more | 9.1% |
| East Richmond Heights | 5.5 mi | $2,071 | $915,400 | 15.4% |
| Richmond | 6.9 mi | $1,960 | $668,200 | 45.3% |
| Rollingwood | 7.1 mi | $1,836 | $600,000 | 24.9% |
Places in California most like Berkeley
| Place | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burbank | $2,192 | $1,089,100 | $97,082 | 56.7% |
| South Pasadena | $2,284 | $1,640,000 | $127,175 | 56.0% |
| Pasadena | $2,265 | $1,093,300 | $105,192 | 57.5% |
| Oakland | $1,979 | $929,900 | $101,600 | 57.7% |
| East Palo Alto | $2,244 | $1,102,600 | $113,493 | 50.9% |
| Torrance | $2,280 | $1,074,700 | $116,217 | 45.0% |
Matched on rent, home value, income, the share who rent, the age of the homes, the share in apartment buildings and the commute, each measured against the spread across California.
HUD Fair Market Rent for Berkeley, fiscal year 2027
| Studio | 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms | 4 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,088 | $2,290 | $2,805 | $3,592 | $4,250 |
HUD income limits for Berkeley, fiscal year 2026
| Household size | Extremely low (30%) | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $35,650 | $59,400 | $95,050 |
| 2 people | $40,750 | $67,900 | $108,600 |
| 3 people | $45,850 | $76,400 | $122,200 |
| 4 people | $50,900 | $84,850 | $135,750 |
| 5 people | $55,000 | $91,650 | $146,650 |
| 6 people | $59,050 | $98,450 | $157,500 |
| 7 people | $63,150 | $105,250 | $168,350 |
| 8 people | $67,200 | $112,050 | $179,200 |
These are the limits HUD sets for its housing programs in the Oakland-Fremont, CA HUD Metro FMR Area, where HUD’s median family income for fiscal year 2026 is $162,800.
A program can use its own limits; tax-credit and local programs often do.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
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Questions about Berkeley
What is the average rent in Berkeley, CA?
The Census Bureau publishes the median rather than the average: the median gross rent in Berkeley is $2,133 (±$65) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey), so half of renting households pay less and half pay more.
How much is a one-bedroom apartment in Berkeley?
The median gross rent for a one-bedroom home in Berkeley, CA is $2,063 (±$68) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Are renters in Berkeley rent-burdened?
55.7% of renting households in Berkeley pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
How many renters are there in Berkeley?
Berkeley has an estimated 26,306 (±1,000) renting households, 55.8% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the median household income in Berkeley?
The median household income in Berkeley is $108,092 (±$5,765) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the average home value in Berkeley, CA?
The Census Bureau publishes the median: $1,413,900 (±$43,756) for owner-occupied homes in Berkeley (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Is Berkeley growing?
In Berkeley, the number of residents went from 121,485 in 2015–2019 to 120,257 in 2020–2024 (−1.0%), a measurable decrease.
What ZIP codes are in Berkeley?
The ZIP codes that cover Berkeley are 94702, 94703, 94709, 94710, 94704, 94720, 94707, 94708, 94705.
What is the median rent in ZIP code 94702?
The median gross rent in ZIP Code Tabulation Area 94702 is $2,094 (±$160) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Sources
- Demographic and Housing Estimates (DP05), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Berkeley city, California
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Berkeley city, California
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Berkeley city, California
- Median Real Estate Taxes Paid by Mortgage Status (B25103), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Berkeley city, California
- Selected Social Characteristics (DP02), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Berkeley city, California
- Total Population (B01003), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Berkeley city, California
- Median Gross Rent (B25064), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Berkeley city, California
- HUD Fair Market Rents, fiscal year 2027: Oakland-Fremont, CA HUD Metro FMR Area
- HUD Income Limits, fiscal year 2026: Oakland-Fremont, CA HUD Metro FMR Area
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas
- FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Crime Data Explorer: Berkeley Police Department (ORI CA0010300)
- FBI: Uniform Crime Reporting statistics and their proper use
- Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, all items, US Bureau of Labor Statistics: annual averages 2019 and 2024
- US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files
To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Berkeley city, California (place:06000, in state:06).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The 2015–2019 figures are B01003_001E, B01003_001M, B25064_001E, B25064_001M from the 2019 release.
The API needs a free key.
DP05_0001E, DP05_0001M, DP04_0001E, DP04_0001M, DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0134E, DP04_0134M, DP03_0062E, DP03_0062M, DP04_0089E, DP04_0089M
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.
Figures last updated on .