$1,170,517Average Value$851Average Price per Sq Ft28Homes For Sale
Berkeley’s hip and growing shoreline neighborhood
Situated along the East Bay shoreline, West Berkeley is a vibrant neighborhood spanning several city blocks with quaint homes, modern condos and a growing lifestyle scene. “There a lot of hip shops and restaurants in West Berkeley along Fourth Street, says Jodi Nishimura, a local realtor and founder of Kai Real Estate, a local firm brokered by eXp Realty. “There are also many beautiful parks along the coastline and lots of cute war-time bungalows in the neighborhood.” Once an industrial zone, changes through the late 20th century transformed West Berkeley into a residential urban neighborhood that continues to grow in appeal today. “Because it’s a more recently developed part of the city, you now have these cool commercial areas that bring in a younger crowd,” says Nishimura. “You still have your regular longtime residents and old-timers in the neighborhood, but recent turnover has brought more young professionals and families to West Berkeley.”
Walkable to trendy dining and shopping
West Berkeley’s urban setting allows residents to walk and bike to a variety of trendy stores and restaurants. The highly rated Café Leila, known for its whimsical garden-style patio, offers healthy breakfast and lunch items, from spinach and mushroom omelets to grilled salmon salad. Down the street is Fieldwork Brewing Company, offering over 30 craft beers on tap plus food items like Detroit-style pizza within a rustic meets industrial space. Whole Foods Market on Gilman Street is the neighborhood spot for grocery staples, although residents often head two miles south to the popular Berkeley Bowl West. First opened in the 1970s, this local independent supermarket moved to its newest location on Heinz Avenue in 2009. Area residents have raved about the grocery store for generations, praising its massive and diverse selection of produce, cheeses, breads, meats and wines.
Community events along Fourth Street
Residents can enjoy community gatherings throughout the year along lively Fourth Street, which runs through the neighborhood. Celebrate Earth Day is a big annual event here each spring, with live music from local performers and activities such as seed planting, pot decoration and face painting. In the fall, the annual Trick-or-Treat and Halloween Festival lets residents trick-or-treat along the shops of Fourth Street. The event concludes with family-fun activities, including art activities, a photo wall, a bubble show and live Halloween-themed music.
Quaint bungalows and modern condominiums
West Berkeley’s extra-wide streetscapes feature narrowly paved sidewalks and sprinkles of medium-sized trees from ironwoods to buckeyes. Homes typically reside on small lots and are often adorned with quaint front exterior gardens. The neighborhood’s housing styles are primarily early 20th-century Craftsman homes and mid-century California bungalows. “During wartime, there were a lot of 1940s bungalows created for steel workers because of the steel mill that was here, so you’ve got a lot of these little houses in the neighborhood,” Nishimura says. Home prices vary widely, ranging from $465,000 to $750,000 for modern condos next to more commercial sectors and $800,0000 to $1.7 million for single-family homes.
Lagoons and multi-use neighborhood parks
Close to the shore, residents can head to Aquatic Park, which features a narrow 67.7-acre lagoon for locals to boat out on. Its water is sourced from a mix of fresh stormwater and tidal water from the San Francisco Bay. A 30-acre park space surrounds the lagoon, offering more recreational opportunities such as walking and biking trails, picnicking, disk golf and the “Dream Land for Kids” playground. Near the center of West Berkeley is the popular San Pablo Park, a 13-acre space with playgrounds, ball fields, tennis courts and a community center. “San Pablo Park has become a real draw for a lot of people,” Nishimura says. “There are a lot of different activities that happen there.” A similar outdoor park, Strawberry Creek Park, sits on the neighborhood’s northern end. Children can play along its light-wooded natural playground, and residents can practice their skills at one of the site’s tennis, basketball and volleyball courts.
Integrated schools with strong athletics
West Berkeley students have a unique set-up for public elementary education. “An interesting thing to know about Berkeley is that the schools are integrated,” Nishimura says. This means that the local school district continues efforts to balance the racial and socio-economic composition at each of its elementary schools, more than 50 years after Berkeley became the first major school district to voluntarily adopt school integration plans through busing. The methods have changed since then, as families today are placed within zones and get to rank what schools they want to send their students to prior to placement. Elementary school options include Malcolm X Elementary, Washington Elementary, Oxford Elementary and Cragmont Elementary, which all get an A-score from Niche. Middle schoolers can attend the A-rated Willard Middle School, while high schoolers can attend the A-plus-rated Berkeley High School. The high school has strong athletics and visual and performing arts programs.
Multiple thoroughfares and Berkeley Caltrain station
The neighborhood sits between Interstate 580 on the west and Highway 123 to the east, making it easy for residents to travel and commute throughout Berkeley or into other prominent Bay Area cities. Local commuters opting for public transportation can walk to the Berkeley Caltrain station, conveniently located at the south tip of the neighborhood on University Avenue. For airline travel, West Berkeley is 16 miles north of the Oakland International Airport.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Frederick Adams,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Bushrod Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Grills
Haskell-Mabel Mini Park
Picnic Area
Playground
Adventure Playground
Playground
San Pablo Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Picnic Area
Strawberry Creek Park
Basketball
Picnic Area
Soccer
Dover Street Park
Picnic Area
Trails
Playground
Aquatic Park
Bike Trails
Boating
Disc Golf
Shorebird Park
Bike Trails
Picnic Area
Trails
Bancroft Community Garden
Transit
Airport
Metro Oakland International
24 min drive
Bus
Ashby Av & Acton St
Bus
Dwight Way & 7th St
Bus
#725 Potter
Bus
University Av & 3rd St
Bus
Dwight Way & Bonar St
Bus
Dwight Way & Mabel St
Bus
San Pablo Av & Grayson St
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
West Berkeley
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
3
4
Assault with Weapon
3
4
Robbery
5
4
Burglary
6
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
6
4
Larceny
7
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in West Berkeley, Berkeley sell after 25 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in West Berkeley, Berkeley over the last 12 months is $1,181,865, up 4% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Gorgeous light-filled 2bd/1ba Craftsman located in Berkeley's coveted Poet's Corner neighborhood awaits you. Rich with original features including hardwood floors, a wood-burning stone fireplace and stained-glass built-in cabinet, this home preserves the charm and elegance of Craftsman design. The welcoming living room with built-in bookcases flows into the formal dining room. An updated kitchen,
Potential 9-10k monthly income!! Detached 2br, 1ba home with a fully occupied triplex building (4 units total) to carry the mortgage. Great opportunity to either live in one and rent the others or strictly as an investment property. Back house is 2br, 1ba approx 1076 sq ft, triplex units are each 2br, 1ba approx 621 sq ft. Plenty of off street parking. Nicely located Very well located just 1.8
Welcome to 1226 Russell Street, a charming triplex nestled in the heart of South Berkeley. This delightful property offers a perfect blend of character and convenience, situated just one block from San Pablo Park and close to Berkeley Bowl, restaurants, shops, and public transit, this triplex offers both charm and accessibility. Whether you're an investor seeking a well-maintained property with
Very cute tri-plex in great SW Berkeley neighborhood across from neighborhood park & playground. Includes 2 br "owner's" unit and additional in-law unit. All tankless water heaters. Potential total rent of 6-7k per month.
Explore our wonderful neighborhood. Aquatic Fourth Street features beautiful Berkeley apartments nestled in a wonderful community surrounded by all of your needs. There are several exciting shopping & dining experiences for you to discover. Live your best life here at our apartments in Berkeley, CA. You'll find Aquatic Fourth Street has everything you've been searching for!Greystar California,
Explore our wonderful neighborhood. Aquatic Higby features beautiful Berkeley apartments nestled in a wonderful community surrounded by all of your needs. There are several exciting shopping & dining experiences for you to discover. Live your best life here at our apartments in Berkeley, CA. You'll find Aquatic Higby has everything you've been searching for!
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Frederick Adams,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
14,406
Median Age
41
Population Density
13 ppl/acre
Population under 18
20%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
16.9%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$89,802
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$124,019
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
94.9%
College Graduates
58.9%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
26.9%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
64.5%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
26''
Average Winter Low Temperature
43°F
Average Summer High Temperature
75°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
77/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
37/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
52/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
