Berkeley, CA vs Santa Barbara, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Berkeley
59.6
#1947 nationally
Santa Barbara
59.8
#1944 nationally
Santa Barbara leads in average commute (17.6 min vs 30.4 min). Berkeley leads in walk score (85 vs 61). Berkeley leads in median household income ($104,716 vs $98,346).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Santa Barbara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 59.6 (#1947) | 59.8 (#1944) |
| Population | 118,962 | 86,499 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,460,437 | $1,848,325 |
| Median Household Income | $104,716 | $98,346 |
| Average Commute | 30.4 min | 17.6 min |
| Walk Score | 85 | 61 |
| Crime Level | 17.5 | 17.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 222 | 225 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+53.6 | D+26.7 |
F
59.6 Score
Berkeley, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,460,437
Population
118,962
Crime
High
Walk Score
85
Pacific
View Berkeley, CA →
F
59.8 Score
Santa Barbara, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,848,325
Population
86,499
Crime
High
Walk Score
61
Pacific
View Santa Barbara, CA →
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