Signals
Lafayette
Berkeley
Opportunity
60 · Top 43%
vs53 · Bottom 44%
Climate
89 · Top 8%
vs89 · Top 8%
Physical resilience
23 · Bottom 17%
vs36 · Bottom 28%
Housing affordability
56 · Bottom 16%
vs42 · Bottom 5%
Access
97 · Top 21%
vs99 · Top 14%
Economic stability
75 · Top 18%
vs40 · Bottom 18%
Measured values
| Metric | Lafayette | Berkeley | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,285 | 120,257 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $228,250 | $108,092 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $123,402 | $69,534 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,683/sq mi | 11,528/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $2,000,001 | $1,413,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,892 | $2,133 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 77.1% | 44.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.8% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 79.0% | 74.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 2.9% | 17.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 88°F | 66°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 41°F | 47°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 16.1" | 22.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 13 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.5 min | 30.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 45.7 | 33.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 15 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 21.05 | 19.32 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 5.4% | 28.2% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Lafayette
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Berkeley
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Full profiles: Lafayette, CA · Berkeley, CA · How this is calculated: methodology