Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Berkeley, CA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

120,257

Median Agei

33.2

Race & Ethnicityi

White

49.9%59,992

Asian

20.4%24,473

Hispanic/Latino

12.8%15,343

Two or More

8%9,652

Black

7.7%9,284

Other

1.1%1,276

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%137

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%100

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

0.5%372

High School Diploma

6%4,582

Some College (<1 yr)

2.3%1,736

Some College (1+ yr)

7.9%5,993

Associate's Degree

4.2%3,200

Bachelor's Degree

32.8%24,905

Master's Degree

23.7%17,957

Professional Degree

7.8%5,892

Doctorate

10.6%8,040

HS or Higher

95.8%

BA or Higher

74.9%

Graduate+

42%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$1,413,900

Median Renti

$2,133

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

44.2%20,829

Renter-Occupied

55.8%26,306

Total Units

53,145

Homeownership

44.2%

Vacancy Rate

11.3%

Home Values

Under $50K

1.4%289

$50K–$100K

0.4%77

$100K–$150K

0.6%130

$150K–$200K

0.5%95

$200K–$300K

0.6%131

$300K–$500K

2.7%552

$500K–$1M

16.3%3,393

$1M+

77.6%16,162

Rent Distribution

Under $500

728

$500–$750

618

$750–$1,000

1,213

$1,000–$1,250

1,752

$1,250–$1,500

1,747

$1,500–$2,000

5,473

$2,000+

14,160

Year Built

2020 or later

0.7%375

2010–2019

5.9%3,109

2000–2009

4.1%2,181

1990–1999

3.9%2,078

1980–1989

4.4%2,362

1970–1979

7.3%3,893

1960–1969

12.2%6,497

1950–1959

6.9%3,653

1940–1949

8.2%4,376

1939 or earlier

46.3%24,621

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

67.6%31,881

Electricity

26.9%12,688

No Fuel

2.8%1,310

Solar

1.1%505

Bottled/LP Gas

1%485

Other

0.2%87

Fuel Oil

0.2%73

Wood

0.1%69

Coal

0.1%37

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$108,092

Mean Household Incomei

$171,265

Per Capita Incomei

$69,534

Poverty Ratei

15.5%

Unemploymenti

5.6%

Labor Forcei

64,394

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

7.9%3,711

$10K–$15K

3%1,413

$15K–$20K

2.4%1,112

$20K–$25K

3.1%1,448

$25K–$30K

2.4%1,149

$30K–$35K

2.1%992

$35K–$40K

2.6%1,238

$40K–$45K

2.7%1,294

$45K–$50K

2.1%984

$50K–$60K

4.9%2,304

$60K–$75K

6.6%3,099

$75K–$100K

8.1%3,798

$100K–$125K

6.4%3,002

$125K–$150K

6%2,850

$150K–$200K

9.1%4,283

$200K+

30.7%14,458

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

2,968

Residentsi

3,717

Avg. Tenant Renti

$492/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

8 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers472 homes74% occupied$506/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Mod Rehab98 homes85% occupied$348/mo rent

Rehabilitated buildings with project-based rental assistance

Project Based Section 8644 homes91% occupied$508/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC67 homes93% occupied$469/mo rent

811/PRAC25 homes93% occupied$451/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $108,092/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $32K/yr

88.9%

Very low income$32K–$54K/yr

8.7%

Low income$54K–$86K/yr

2.4%

Who Receives This Housing

55.9% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

63.4% of subsidized households are minority

26.8% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

66.4% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

25,38921.1%

By Region

Top Countries

China

4,080

India

2,220

Mexico

1,951

Korea

1,065

United Kingdom

817

Canada

790

Germany

737

Philippines

493

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

58,917

Avg. Commutei

27.8 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

60,691

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

2,203(2.1% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

97.2%Insured

2.8%Uninsured