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Population Review

Berkeley, California Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates

The population of Berkeley, California is 120,223 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 52nd-largest city in California. The median household income is $108,558, the median home value is $1,351,100, and the median age is 32.9.

The population has grown 7.8% since 2010 (112,889 → 121,749).

120,223

Population

11524

People / sq mi

$108,558

Median Income

$1,351,100

Median Home Value

Berkeley covers 10.4 sq mi of land at 11524 people per square mile.

About Berkeley, CA

Berkeley is a city in California with a population of 120,223. It ranks #52 among cities in California by population. The median age is 32.9, younger than the national median. The population is 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

The median household income in Berkeley is $108,558, above the US median of $74,580. 3.4% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $1,351,100, with monthly rent averaging $2,127. The homeownership rate of 43.3% is lower than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Berkeley reflects 75.1% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 32.5% of workers primarily work from home, noticeably above the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 29.9 minutes each way.

Berkeley city Population History (2010-2024)

The city of Berkeley city had a population of 112,889 in 2010 and 121,749 in 2024, a 7.8% growth over 14 years. The peak was 124,219 in 2020. Average annual growth rate: 0.57%.

2020 · 124K20102024

121,749

Population (2024)

112,889

Population (2010)

124,219

Peak (2020)

0.57%

Avg Annual Growth

YearPopulation
2010112,889
2011113,968
2012115,309
2013116,944
2014118,697
2015120,749
2016121,547
2017122,164
2018121,663
2019121,363
2020124,219
2021115,555
2022119,429
2023120,320
2024121,749

Race & Ethnicity

White54.8%
Black or African American7.4%
Asian0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)2.0%
Two or More Races0.0%

Economy & Income

$108,558

Median Household Income

$66,936

Per Capita Income

3.4%

Poverty Rate

3.7%

Unemployment Rate

Housing

$1,351,100

Median Home Value

$2,127

Median Rent

43.3%

Owner-Occupied

Education

96.1%

High School+

75.1%

Bachelor's+

Commute

15.8%

Drive Alone

27.4%

Public Transit

32.5%

Work From Home

29.9 min

Avg Commute

Community Profile

29.6%

Foreign Born

70.2%

Non-English at Home

2.0%

Veterans

10.2%

With Disability

97.1%

Health Insurance

97.5%

Internet Access

Employment by Industry

Professional, Scientific & Management31.9%
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate23.0%
Education, Health Care & Social Services8.3%
Information5.5%
Arts, Entertainment & Food Services5.2%
Transportation & Warehousing5.1%
Manufacturing4.3%
Public Administration3.6%
Construction3.2%
Retail Trade2.4%
Agriculture & Mining0.4%

Largest cities in California

Largest counties in California

Part of California

Metro areas in California

City rankings

Frequently Asked Questions

Berkeley, California has a population of 120,223 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 52nd-largest city in California.

The median household income in Berkeley, California is $108,558, with 3.4% of residents living below the federal poverty level.

The median home value in Berkeley, California is $1,351,100, with median monthly rent at $2,127 and a homeownership rate of 43.3%.

The median age in Berkeley, California is 32.9 years. The population is 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

The population has grown 7.8% since 2010 (112,889 → 121,749).

Data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.