2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Berkeley, CA vs Oakland, CA

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Highlights
- Household income in Oakland, is 12% less than it is in Berkeley and is 19% above the National Average.
- Berkeley unemployment rate is 5.1%.
- Oakland unemployment rate is 7.7%.
 Berkeley, CAOakland, CAUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock7.7%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock1.4%1.6%
 Future Job Growth36.3%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes9.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock8.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$56,168  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$85,628$69,021
 Family Median Income$156,940  Unlock$85,028
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 Est. Households By Income
 Berkeley, CAOakland, CAUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock10.3%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K2.8%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock6.8%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K6.1%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock5.7%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K4.4%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock7.0%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K9.4%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock15.7%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K10.4%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock18.0%9.5%
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 Population By Occupation
 Berkeley, CAOakland, CAUnited States
 Management, business, finance19.4%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock9.6%6.5%
 Community, social services2.4%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock2.2%1.2%
 Education, library13.2%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock4.9%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology4.4%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock2.9%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement1.1%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock5.1%5.4%
 Building maintenance1.8%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock2.7%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support14.0%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.3%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair2.5%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock10.4%13.1%
Reviews for Berkeley    14 Reviews

Have lived in Berkeley for about 35 years now. Housing/Real Estate: If you're looking to move here, $1,000,000 will get you a small cottage in the "flats". Most of  More

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Over 12 years ago

We have the best climate -- summers and winters are mild. Lots of  More

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Over 14 years ago

The 60's have left Berkeley and now it is about MONEY...and the people there have plenty of it and nice hybrid cars (looks like 2 per household) and with a great bicycle  More

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Reviews for Oakland    38 Reviews

I move to Oakland 20yrs ago with high hopes, loved the geography of the city, the diversity is outstanding, and the charm of the older homes is wonderful. When I  More

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Over 4 years ago

Fun place to visit. Little rough is some areas- a lot to do  More

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I moved to Oakland because of its racial diversity in the early eighties although I've seen some ups and downs in this visually beautiful city, it has never been as bad  More

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