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Berkeley, CA
Berkeley · Alameda County · CA 94702
Updated June 25, 2026 · Would You Live There?
Think twice
Verdict
$1.1M
Median Price
72/100
Walk Score
5/10
Schools
23 min
to Downtown San Francisco
Score Breakdown
FAffordability
15/100
D+Safety
55/100
D+Schools
50/100
CQuietness
60/100
B+Commute
85/100
B-Walkability
72/100
WYLT Score56/100
Our Take
Berkeley offers great schools, walkability, and plenty of green space, but the cost of living is very high and traffic congestion can be frustrating. If you can afford it and don't mind the local NIMBY politics, it can work well, otherwise look elsewhere.
Community Poll
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The Good
- ✓Top‑rated public schools
- ✓Very walkable with bike lanes
- ✓Abundant parks and open space
- ✓Strong community activism and progressive values
Real Talk
- !Very expensive housing and rent
- !Traffic congestion, especially during peak hours
- !Limited new housing due to NIMBY zoning
- !Higher property taxes and HOA fees for many units
- $High property taxes
- $HOA and condo fees
- $Parking permits
- $Utilities can be higher than average
Best For
Families with kidsCollege studentsProfessionals who commute to SFPeople who value outdoor recreation
Risk Snapshot
Flood riskLow
Violent crimeModerate
Property crimeModerate
Air qualityGood
Price volatilityModerate
Crime & Safety
Berkeley, CA
D+
Safety grade
Safety score55 / 100
High riskVery safe
⚠️Violent Crime
Moderate3.9incidents / 1,000 residents / yr
0Natl avg (3.7)11+
5% higher than the national average
🔒Property Crime
Moderate19.8incidents / 1,000 residents / yr
0Natl avg (19.5)59+
2% higher than the national average
Verify with real-time data
City-Data stats →From Residents
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