Berkeley, CA

Census Place

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2024 Population
120,257
US Senator
Alex Padilla
Democratic Party
US Senator
Adam Schiff
Democratic Party
2024 Median Age
33.2
0.912% 1-year increase
2024 Poverty Rate
17.3%
2.78% 1-year increase
2024 Median Household Income
$108,092
0.429% 1-year decline
2024 Median Property Value
$1.41M
4.65% 1-year growth
2024 Employed Population
60,691
2.32% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Berkeley, CA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

88.6% of the residents in Berkeley, CA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Berkeley, CA are University of California-Berkeley (15,913 degrees awarded in 2023), Berkeley City College (654 degrees), and The Wright Institute (197 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Berkeley, CA was $1.41M, and the homeownership rate was 44.2%.

Most people in Berkeley, CA worked at home, and the average commute time was 27.8 minutes. The average car ownership in Berkeley, CA was 1 car per household.

About the photo: Claremont Canyon at Dawn
Photo by David Abercrombie
United StatesCaliforniaAlameda County, CASan Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CAAlameda County (North)--Berkeley & Albany Cities PUMA, CAAlameda County (Northwest)--Oakland City (Downtown/West Oakland/North Oakland) PUMA, CAAlameda County (Northwest)--Oakland City (Oakland Hills) PUMA, CAAlameda County (West)--San Leandro, Alameda, Emeryville & Piedmont Cities PUMA, CAContra Costa County (Far Northwest)--Richmond (North), Hercules & El Cerrito Cities PUMA, CAContra Costa County (West)--Concord (West), Martinez & Pleasant Hill Cities PUMA, CAContra Costa County (West)--Walnut Creek (West), Lafayette & Orinda Cities PUMA, CASan Francisco County (Northeast)--Chinatown, North Beach & Russian Hill PUMA, CA

Population & Diversity

Berkeley, CA is home to a population of 120k people, from which 88.6% are citizens. As of 2024, 21% of Berkeley, CA residents were born outside of the country (25.2k people).

In 2024, there were 2.45 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (60k people) in Berkeley, CA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 24.5k Asian (Non-Hispanic) and 9.28k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

88.6%
2024 Citizenship
88.8%
2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 88.6% of Berkeley, CA residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Berkeley, CA was 88.8%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Berkeley, CA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Berkeley, CA
  1. White (Non-Hispanic)
    60k ± 1.63k
  2. Asian (Non-Hispanic)
    24.5k ± 1.38k
  3. Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
    9.28k ± 1.19k
12.8%
Hispanic Population
15.3k people

In 2024, there were 2.45 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (60k people) in Berkeley, CA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 24.5k Asian (Non-Hispanic) and 9.28k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

12.8% of the people in Berkeley, CA are hispanic (15.3k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Berkeley, CA as a share of the total population.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for California.
Most Common Origin
  1. Mexico
    3,862,617 ± 45,816 people
  2. Philippines
    824,246 ± 22,054 people
  3. China
    687,951 ± 20,184 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of California was Mexico, the natal country of 3,862,617 California residents, followed by Philippines with 824,246 and China with 687,951.

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Foreign-Born Population

21%
2024 Foreign-Born Population
25.2k people
21.1%
2023 Foreign-Born Population
25.3k people

As of 2024, 21% of Berkeley, CA residents (25.2k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Berkeley, CA was 21.1%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Berkeley, CA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period
  1. Vietnam
    725 ± 183
  2. Gulf War (2001-)
    392 ± 147
  3. Gulf War (1990s)
    308 ± 110

Berkeley, CA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.85 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Berkeley, CA.

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Economy

The economy of Berkeley, CA employs 60.7k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Berkeley, CA were Educational Services (12,964 people), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (12,091 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (6,563 people), and the highest paying industries were Management of Companies & Enterprises ($250,001), Utilities ($140,344), and Finance & Insurance ($120,935).

Employment

Occupations

60.7k
2024 Value
± 1,939
−2.32%
1 Year decline
± 4.52%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Berkeley, CA declined at a rate of −2.32%, from 62.1k employees to 60.7k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Berkeley, CA, are Management Occupations (8,676 people), Education Instruction, & Library Occupations (8,456 people), and Computer & Mathematical Occupations (4,915 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Berkeley, CA.

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Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in California (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

60.7k
2024 Value
± 1,939
−2.32%
1 Year decline
± 4.52%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Berkeley, CA declined at a rate of −2.32%, from 62.1k employees to 60.7k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Berkeley, CA, are Educational Services (12,964 people), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (12,091 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (6,563 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Berkeley, CA, though some of these residents may live in Berkeley, CA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Median Earnings by Industry

$79,316
Median earning men ± $6,168
$56,401
Median earning women ± $6,188

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Information ($189,375), Wholesale Trade ($183,148), and Public Administration ($122,937).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($107,768), Manufacturing ($106,125), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($103,981).

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Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.
Y-Axis
2.57%
Year-over-year growth
Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 17.9M people employed in California. This represents a 2.57% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 14%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in California.

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Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in California went to Kamala Harris with 58.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (38.3%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.25%).

Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff are the senators currently representing the state of California. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

California is currently represented by 52 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Voting results are not available for Berkeley, CA. Showing the available data for California.
2024 Election Results
  1. Kamala Harris (58.5%)
    Democratic Party
  2. Donald J. Trump (38.3%)
    Republican Party
  3. Robert Kennedy (1.25%)
    Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in California went to Kamala Harris with 58.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (38.3%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.25%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in California for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

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Senator Elections

US Senators from California

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for California.
Alex Padilla
Senator from California3
Assumed office on January 20, 2021
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Kamala Harris, who had become Vice President of the United States.
Adam Schiff
Senator from California1
Assumed office on December 8, 2024
Elected to the seat to succeed Laphonza Butler, who had been appointed to the seat following the death of Dianne Feinstein.

Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff are the senators currently representing California.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in California over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

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Education

In 2023, universities in Berkeley, CA awarded 16,920 degrees. The student population of Berkeley, CA in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 24,285 male students and 29,213 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Berkeley, CA are Asian (4,906 and 36.6%), White (4,129 and 30.8%), Hispanic or Latino (2,490 and 18.6%), and Two or More Races (872 and 6.51%).

The largest universities in Berkeley, CA by number of degrees awarded are University of California-Berkeley (15,913 and 94%), Berkeley City College (654 and 3.87%), and The Wright Institute (197 and 1.16%).

The most popular majors in Berkeley, CA are Computer Science (1,050 and 6.21%), Econometrics & Quantitative Economics (944 and 5.58%), and Cellular & Molecular Biology (788 and 4.66%).

The median tuition costs in Berkeley, CA are $13,228 for private four year colleges, and $11,834 and $42,611 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University
Measure

In 2023 in Berkeley, CA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 11.7%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 45.3%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 53,498 (45.4% men and 54.6% women).

The line chart  shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

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Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 53,498 students enrolled in Berkeley, CA, 45.4% men and 54.6% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Asian with 15,430 records, of which 54.4% were women and 45.6% men.

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Completions

Concentrations

Most Common
  1. Econometrics & Quantitative Economics
    909 degrees awarded
  2. Cellular & Molecular Biology
    761 degrees awarded
  3. Computer Science
    994 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Berkeley, CA was Econometrics & Quantitative Economics with 909 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Berkeley, CA according to their major.

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Universities

Gender
Race
Largest Universities by degrees awarded
  1. University of California-Berkeley
    15,913 degrees awarded
  2. Berkeley City College
    654 degrees awarded
  3. The Wright Institute
    197 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was University of California-Berkeley with 15,913 degrees awarded.

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Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 7,842 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Berkeley, CA, which is 0.864 times less than the 9,078 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was Asian students. These 4,906 degrees mean that there were 1.19 times more degrees awarded to Asian students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, White, with 4,129 degrees awarded.

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Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

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Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($13,228) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($3,016) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($1,971) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Berkeley, CA was $1.41M in 2024, which is 4.25 times larger than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $1.35M to $1.41M, a 4.65% increase. The homeownership rate in Berkeley, CA is 44.2%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Berkeley, CA have an average commute time of 27.8 minutes, and they worked at home. Car ownership in Berkeley, CA is lower than the national average, with an average of 1 car per household.

Housing

Property

$1.41M
Median Property Value 2024
±$43,756
$20,829
Median Property Taxes
±$933

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Berkeley, CA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Berkeley, CA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

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Rent vs Own

44.2%
Homeownership
2024
66.6%
Homeowners with Mortgage
2024

In 2024, 44.2% of the housing units in Berkeley, CA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 43.3%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Berkeley, CA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.
$108,092
Median Household Income
± $5,765
47.1k
Number of Households
± 1,542

In 2024, the median household income of the 47.1k households in Berkeley, CA declined from $108,092 from the previous year's value of $108,558.

The following chart displays the households in Berkeley, CA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $200k+ range.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Berkeley, CA is from California.
0.495
2023 Wage GINI in California
0.498
2022 Wage GINI in California

In 2023, the income inequality in California was 0.495 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.573% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for California was higher than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in California in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in California across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024
  1. Worked At Home (37.1%)
  2. Drove Alone (27.2%)
  3. Walked (13.6%)

In 2024, 37.1% of workers in Berkeley, CA worked at home, followed by those who drove alone to work (27.2%) and those who walked to work (13.6%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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Commute Time

27.8 minutes
Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Berkeley, CA have a longer commute time (27.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.78% of the workforce in Berkeley, CA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Berkeley, CA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Car Ownership

1 car
Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Berkeley, CA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Berkeley, CA have 1 car.

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Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

17.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Berkeley, CA (18.7k out of 108k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Females 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Berkeley, CA is White, followed by Asian and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Health

97.2% of the population of Berkeley, CA has health coverage, with 55% on employee plans, 10.4% on Medicaid, 12.1% on Medicare, 19% on non-group plans, and 0.527% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in California see 1,233 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,233 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1076 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 213 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.1% were men and 51.9% were women.

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 16.4% under 18 years, 36.3% between 18 and 34 years, 30.7% between 35 and 64 years, and 16.6% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.1% were men and 51.9% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

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Uninsured People

2.83%
Uninsured
55%
Employer Coverage
10.4%
Medicaid
12.1%
Medicare
19%
Non-Group
0.527%
Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Berkeley, CA declined by 1.1% from 2.86% to 2.83%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Berkeley, CA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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