( 15 Reviews)

Living in Berkeley, CA

What's it like living in Berkeley?

  • Berkeley has a Livability Score of 67/100, which is considered average
  • Berkeley crime rates are 92% higher than the California average
  • Cost of living in Berkeley is 37% higher than the California average

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Berkeley California don't go. 2 rating By Never again ( May 09, 2018) I went to Berkeley between 2015 & 2016 for some medical help. Berkeley was fun just not the two people i made friends with. I mafe friends eith a few others and they are very cool sincere people. These teo bad apples tried get me killed. Seriously i have some serious medical comp ...Read More lications. Lung disease the worst kind.i will share my whole story with a write up i first need to find a public forum to write it about. Just be very careful of the people you decide to make friends with. Read Less
Berkeley, CA - My Famous Home Town 4.5 rating By Anonymous ( Jun 11, 2010) Whenever I travel and people ask me where I am from, I don't just answer "America" or even "California". I tell them proudly, "Berkeley." And whether I'm in Africa or Auckland or Patagonia or China, almost everyone immediately knows what city I'm talking about. Not bad for a smal ...Read More l town!

So. What makes Berkeley so special that its name is recognized all over the world? It has a famous university. It's right across the bay from glorious San Francisco. It's home to the 1960s Free Speech Movement. Its Gourmet Ghetto houses Chez Panisse. Jack Kerouac, Whoopi Goldberg and Jimi Hendrix lived here. And I live here too. What more could you ask for?

"But would I also like to live in the city of Berkeley?" you might ask. I think you would. Perhaps you would like the hiking trails in Tilden Park or the famous Lawrence Hall of Science. Perhaps you might like the marina and fishing pier that juts out into the bay. Perhaps you could wander around the Cal campus or.... There are a lot of things you could do and see here. And perhaps you might also want to move to Berkeley -- so that almost everyone in the world will know where you live too! Read Less
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Berkeley, CA

Maybe it is the proximity to San Francisco, or maybe it is the sense of social liberalism, but there is a reason why over 100,000 people choose to live in Berkeley, California. This small city is located on the Eastern part of the San Francisco Bay, and it does not come cheap. The average costs of living, as well as rental and home costs, are roughly twice more than the national average; however, the city offers no shortage of charm and breathtaking views. If you can afford it, consider moving to this unique area.

Berkeley is made up of only about 10 miles of land, and 7 miles of water, most of which is in the San Francisco Bay. It borders Oakland, Emeryville, Contra Costa County and Albany. Much of the city is elevated and comprised of peaks, the highest being Grizzly Peak. If you like mild weather, you will love it there. The climate is Mediterranean, and summers are dry, while winters are wet. Mornings and evenings with a slight chill and plenty of fog are commonplace, so bring layers.

Thanks to the progressive values held by many who live in Berkeley, public transportation is bustling. Numerous bus companies, including Golden Gate Transit, take riders where they need to go. It is also well served by ferry boats, as well as Amtrak and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), which has three stations in Berkeley. BART also offers airport transportation, so you can get by living here without a car. Not only is it convenient, but it is affordable, too. It only costs about $1 per ride with a Clipper Card.

The city of Berkeley offers tons of options for shopping, eating, sightseeing and entertainment. Telegraph Ave, once a hippie enclave, is the go-to place to shop or grab a quick bite. If you want to see San Francisco, head to the Berkeley Marina and Pier to spot the Golden Gate Bridge. After you get hungry from all that walking, swing by a coffee shop in the Gourmet Ghetto, or dress up for a fancy meal. The many off-beat attractions give Berkeley its character. Catch a film at the United Artists Cinema, get educated at the Lawrence Hall of Science or catch a show at the Hearst Greek Theater. Or, chill out on the UC campus.

Berkeley gives you the chance to experience the beauty of northern California combined with all the cultural riches of the city. Live in a small, community-oriented place with easy access to one of the largest, most busting cities in the country. You get the best of both worlds when you live there. Come experience the beauty of the Bay Area — you will love it.

Parks

Ashby Place Park
Cedar-Rose Park
Indian Rock Park
Live Oak Park
Ohlone Greenway

Entertainment

Assyrian Cultural Center
The Marsh Arts Center
Black Repertory Group
Berkeley Art Center
Berkeley Veterans Memorial Auditorium

Food & Drink

Berkeley Thai House
Fish & Bird Sousaku Izakaya
Pat Brown's Grille
Tako Sushi
Homemade Cafe
Drive to Work
33%

44% lower than the US average

Take Public Transit
23%

18% higher than the US average

Walk to Work
17%

15% higher than the US average

Hospitals

Sutter Urgent Care - Berkeley
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Campus

Pharmacies

Walgreens
CVS Pharmacy
Walgreens
Walgreens
Walgreens

Doctors

LifeLong West Berkeley
Berkeley Family Practice Medical Group
Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation - Care Center
Berkeley pediatric medical group
Sutter Urgent Care - Berkeley

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