A+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    A+
  2. Crime & Safety
    C+
  3. Housing
    C+
  4. Nightlife
    A
  5. Good for Families
    A+
  6. Diversity
    A+
  7. Jobs
    B
  8. Weather
    A+
  9. Cost of Living
    D+
  10. Health & Fitness
    A+
  11. Outdoor Activities
    A+
  12. Commute
    A
View Full Report Card
Population
117,384

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$741,900
National
$178,600
Median Rent
$1,362
National
$928
Area Feel
Urban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    57%
  • Own
    43%
View Places to Live Rankings
  • Public Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Colleges

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    C+
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      129
      273
    • Murder
      1
      6
    • Rape
      37
      41
    • Robbery
      274
      133
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      905
      525
    • Theft
      3,405
      2,081
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      596
      263

    Residents

    Diversity
    A+
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Median Household Income
    $66,237
    National
    $53,889
    Children
    10%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      38%
      11%
    • Bachelor's degree
      33%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      17%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      7%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      4%
      13%

    Berkeley Reviews

    42 reviews
    All Categories
    I moved here from Houston, Texas where you need a car to get everywhere. At first, the city does provide a bit of a culture shock because people are so eccentric, and almost too friendly! Over time though, this feeling wears off and you realize how invitng the people fo the city are. The city itself has wonders of food and entertainment for those keen on local treats. The amount of cultural food is absolutely insane and more diverse than any other city I have been to. Unfortunately, the only downside is that the cost of a house of apartment is extraordinarily high. Your best bet is t live near the outskirts of Berekley, away from campus. With this in mind, the bike safety rules are super strict and commutng via bike is safer than any oter city I have visited.
    Review Berkeley
    I loved living in Berkeley! I was commuting into San Francisco via Bart when I lived there and access to public transportation was easy and accessible. I lived close to downtown Berkeley which was nearby great grocery stores (Berkeley Bowl was my favorite! TJ's was also close by), parks, restaurants and coffee shops. I always felt very safe walking around and the vibes in the neighborhood were always calm and friendly. The only thing I will say is that because I lived so close to UC Berkeley, there were a lot of students in the area which sometimes meant late night parties and drunk students walking around at night. Other than that, I thought Berkeley was a great place to live!
    The City of Berkeley is an interesting place to live with plenty of great restaurants, connectivity with the rest of the Bay Area, and the world-renowned University of California, Berkeley. As a former student and subsequent employee of the UC Berkeley, I have lived in Berkeley for four years and can share some experiences. Berkeley has a fantastic food scene and is filled with a great selection of different restaurants to suit any palate. The city is very walkable making trips to work or the grocery store convenient. The city is ideally situated for easy commutes into San Francisco and Oakland. Unfortunately, Berkeley has a terrible homeless problem and the city does little to address it which leads to some awful, if not scary, interactions on the street. Housing is incredibly expensive and has not been remedied. Overall, Berkeley is a decent place to live for students, but not a place to settle down.