City · California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley, city, in Alameda County, California. Berkeley had 121,911 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 124,321 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 120,257 (±59). GEOID 0606000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
121,911
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 124,321 · ACS 2020-2024: 120,257 ±59
Median household income
$108,092
±$5,765 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$1,413,900
±$43,756 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$2,133
±$65 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Berkeley and what county is it in?
Berkeley is a city in Alameda County, California. It covers 10.4 square miles of land, 11,917 residents per square mile in 2020.
Berkeley is in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 5 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Berkeley, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 121,911 people lived in Berkeley on July 1, 2025, down 1.9% since 2020, a steeper fall than California's (−0.5%). The 2020 Census counted 124,321 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 120,257 (±59).
| Measure | Berkeley | Alameda County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 120,257 ±59 | 1,649,473 | −1,228 |
| Households | 47,135 ±1,021 | 598,246 | +1,783 |
| Average household size | 2.27 ±0.05 | 2.70 | −0.12 |
| Housing units | 53,145 ±1,003 | 637,212 | +4,471 |
Berkeley's population since 2000
From 102,743 in 2000 to 121,911 in 2025: up 18.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Berkeley as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Berkeley?
The median resident of Berkeley is 33.2 years old; 12.7% are under 18 and 16.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 49.9%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 20.4%. 21.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Berkeley | Alameda County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.2 ±0.7 | 39.0 | +2.1 |
| Under 18 years | 12.7% ±0.6 pts | 19.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.7% ±0.8 pts | 15.4% | – |
| Male | 48.1% ±0.9 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 12.8% ±1.0 pts | 23.4% | +1.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 49.9% ±1.4 pts | 27.4% | −3.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 7.7% ±1.0 pts | 9.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 20.4% ±1.1 pts | 32.7% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 8.0% ±0.7 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 21.1% ±1.1 pts | 34.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 30.7% ±1.3 pts | 47.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 2.1% ±0.3 pts | 3.0% | – |
| With a disability | 10.9% ±0.7 pts | 10.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.8% ±0.6 pts | 4.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.8% ±0.6 pts | 88.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 74.9% ±1.2 pts | 52.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 42.0% ±1.3 pts | 23.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 74.8% ±1.1 pts | 87.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.3% ±0.5 pts | 1.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Berkeley earn?
Half of Berkeley's 47,135 households earn less than $108,092 a year (±$5,765), against $129,367 in Alameda County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 it was $105,261 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 17.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Berkeley | Alameda County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $108,092 ±$5,765 | $129,367 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $171,265 ±$5,215 | $177,144 | – |
| Per capita income | $69,534 ±$2,251 | $65,862 | +$7,238 |
| People below the poverty line | 17.3% ±1.3 pts | 9.2% | −1.9 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.6% ±2.5 pts | 8.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.7% ±1.2 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.0% ±0.6 pts | 97.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.3% ±0.8 pts | 94.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Berkeley?
Owners occupy 44.2% of Berkeley's occupied homes and renters 55.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,413,900 by its owner (±$43,756). The median renter pays $2,133 a month including utilities, and 48.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Berkeley | Alameda County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $1,413,900 ±$43,756 | $1,090,100 | +$177,176 |
| Median gross rent | $2,133 ±$65 | $2,357 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 48.6% ±2.8 pts | 41.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $4,000 or more | $3,810 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 44.2% ±1.6 pts | 54.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 55.8% ±1.6 pts | 45.6% | – |
| Housing units | 53,145 ±1,003 | 637,212 | +4,471 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5% ±0.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 9.6% ±1.5 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 40.4% ±1.3 pts | 51.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7% ±0.2 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.9% ±0.8 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 46.3% ±1.7 pts | 19.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 20.7% ±1.5 pts | 10.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Berkeley building?
Builders took permits for 364 new housing units in Berkeley in 2025 (106 in single-family houses; the permit office reported 9 of 12 months), 3.0 per 1,000 residents against 2.6 across California.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Berkeley work and get to work?
27.2% of Berkeley's workers drive alone and 37.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.6%.
| Measure | Berkeley | Alameda County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.1% ±1.2 pts | 66.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6% ±0.7 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 27.2% ±1.6 pts | 52.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.3% ±0.6 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 12.4% ±1.1 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Walked | 13.6% ±1.2 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 37.1% ±1.8 pts | 25.7% | +26.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.8 min ±0.9 | 31.0 min | −3.1 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Berkeley?
34 census tracts lie mostly in Berkeley, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $32,026 (Tract 4228) to $250,000 or more (Tract 4212).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 4228Alameda County | 9,850 | $32,026 |
| Tract 4236.02Alameda County | 5,621 | $53,952 |
| Tract 4234Alameda County | 5,218 | $145,789 |
| Tract 4227Alameda County | 5,154 | not published |
| Tract 4225Alameda County | 4,481 | $53,041 |
| Tract 4230Alameda County | 4,478 | $110,536 |
| Tract 4231Alameda County | 4,286 | $54,787 |
| Tract 4213Alameda County | 4,131 | $148,235 |
| Tract 4219Alameda County | 4,110 | $154,219 |
| Tract 4224Alameda County | 4,096 | $88,902 |
| Tract 4216Alameda County | 4,008 | $232,344 |
| Tract 4240.01Alameda County | 4,000 | $82,125 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Berkeley) · Census block assignment files
How does Berkeley compare with other places in California?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Berkeley is the 250th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 53rd-most populous of 483 in California.
Berkeley ranks 377th of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 53rd | 483 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 251st | 469 |
| Residents per square mile | 35th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 377th | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 193rd | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 113th | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 354th | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 205th | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57th | 988 |
| Median age | 885th | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 966th | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 52nd | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 533rd | 1,069 |
Berkeley's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Berkeley with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Berkeley?
4 of the 57 figures for Berkeley on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Berkeley are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Berkeley.