West Berkeley
Neighborhood in Berkeley, California
Alameda County 94702, 94710
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.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.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.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.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.

Agents Specializing in this Area
-
Westin Means
eXp Realty of California
(510) 853-6907
33 Total Sales
1 in West Berkeley
$955,000 Price
-
Robert Pedro
Signature Realty & Mortgage
(650) 376-7617
55 Total Sales
2 in West Berkeley
$750K - $1.6M Price Range
-
Azadeh Yazdi
The Agency
(925) 258-2598
59 Total Sales
2 in West Berkeley
$695K - $1.6M Price Range
-
Daniel Winkler
Winkler Real Estate Group
(510) 871-8855
160 Total Sales
3 in West Berkeley
$825K - $1.8M Price Range
-
David Yi
Light Realty Inc.
(510) 880-1201
35 Total Sales
2 in West Berkeley
$1,125,000 Price Range
-
Eloise Middleton
Kw Advisors East Bay
(510) 345-0898
30 Total Sales
2 in West Berkeley
$980K - $1M Price Range
Schools
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Parks in this Area
Transit
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
West Berkeley Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in West Berkeley, Berkeley sell after 25 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in West Berkeley, Berkeley over the last 12 months is $1,200,000, up 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Open Houses
-
Sunday, Jun 152 - 4pm
-
Sunday, Jun 152 - 4pm
-
Sunday, Jun 152 - 4pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Finances
Education and Workforce
Weather
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
Good Transit
Transit 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.
Nearby Neighborhoods

Oakland neighborhood close to the shops in Emeryville

Vibrant community with diverse restaurants and plentiful transit methods

Vibrant East Bay neighborhood embraces history, arts and community

Small suburban community with access to big-city amenities in North Oakland

Residential neighborhood offering plenty of convenience