Neighborhood · Berkeley, CA

Central Berkeley Eviction Risk: Moderate

3 census tracts · pop 11,396 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 5.7/10 · range 5.3–6.1

Central Berkeley is a diverse neighborhood in Berkeley with 3 census tracts and a population of 11,396 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 5.7/10 (Moderate tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 48% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 29% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Median gross rent of $2,222/month sits 4% higher than the Berkeley citywide median ($2,133).

Risk score

5.7

Moderate

3 tracts · population-weighted

Central Berkeley vs Berkeley How this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average

% of income on rent

47.8% +41%

Berkeley: 34.0%

Average gross rent

$2,222 +4%

Berkeley: $2,133

Average HH income

$99,321 -9%

Berkeley: $108,558

Poverty rate

10.0% -40%

Berkeley: 16.8%

Renter share

60.4% +8%

Berkeley: 55.8%

Peer neighborhoods

Neighborhoods with similar eviction risk

Same county, closest by Eviction Risk Score.

Geographic context

Risk heat across Central Berkeley and the region

Click any tract to drill in · 3 tracts span score 5.3–6.1

Why Central Berkeley scores 5.7

9 axes · pop-weighted · 1 = landlord-friendly

State political climate

legislature & governorship · Range 6.8–6.8 across tracts

6.8

Regional political climate

County-level mix · 2024 presidential margin · Range 8.1–8.1 across tracts

8.1

Local political climate

Parent city governance · Range 7.5–7.5 across tracts

7.5

Rent control risk

48% of income on rent · Range 7.7–7.7 across tracts

7.7

Eviction process difficulty

State notice requirements & court backlog · Range 6.1–6.1 across tracts

6.1

Tenant organizing strength

60% renter households · Range 9.5–9.5 across tracts

9.5

Housing court bias

County bench composition · Range 7.5–7.5 across tracts

7.5

Economic stress

10.0% below poverty line · Range 1.8–3.4 across tracts

2.5

Supply constraint

Rent-to-FMR gap & zoning friction · Range 2.4–3.7 across tracts

3.3

Risk score comparison

Central Berkeley vs. parent city, state, U.S.

Eviction Risk Score (0–10 scale).

Variance across tracts

How uniformly does eviction risk play out in Central Berkeley?

Left: distribution of constituent tract scores. Right: every tract as a heat square — click to drill in.

Score distribution

0246810

Spread of 0.8 points from 5.3 to 6.1. Tracts are relatively uniform — conditions feel similar throughout the neighborhood.

Tracts as heat grid

6.1 5.7 5.3

Each square = one census tract. Color tracks the same green→red ramp as the chloropleth map above.

Census tracts

3 tracts in Central Berkeley

Ranked highest-risk first. Click for per-tract detail.

Tract↕	Score↕	Pop↕	% over 30% on rent↕	Average rent↕
06001423000	6.1	4,549	63%	$2,345
06001422300	5.7	3,567	43%	$2,280
06001422200	5.3	3,280	33%	$1,989

Social Vulnerability Index

CDC SVI percentile: 34

Pop-weighted across 3 tracts. Higher = more vulnerable to disaster, displacement, and rent shocks. Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022.

Socioeconomic status 28%ile

Poverty, unemployment, no-HS-diploma, housing cost burden

Household characteristics 12%ile

Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+

Racial/ethnic minority 60%ile

Hispanic + non-white share of population

Housing & transport 65%ile

Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle

CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted

Eviction-adjacent indicators in Central Berkeley

Average across all constituent tracts, population-weighted. Source: CDC PLACES (cwsq-ngmh) crude prevalence.

8.0%Housing insecurity
4.4%Utility shutoff threat
8.4%Food insecurity
7.2%SNAP enrollment
4.3%No health insurance
23.1%Any disability

Frequently asked

About Central Berkeley

What is the eviction-risk score for Central Berkeley?

Central Berkeley scores 5.7/10 (Moderate tier) across 3 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.

How does Central Berkeley compare to Berkeley overall?

Central Berkeley scores 0.6 points lower than Berkeley overall (6.3/10). Renters spend 48% of income on rent vs 34% citywide. Median rent: $2,222 vs $2,133.

What is the average rent in Central Berkeley?

Median gross rent in Central Berkeley eviction risk is $2,222/month (pop-weighted across 3 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.

What percentage of Central Berkeley residents are renters?

60% of Central Berkeley households are renter-occupied (vs 56% in Berkeley). The neighborhood has 11,396 residents.

Is Central Berkeley a high social-vulnerability area?

Central Berkeley sits in the 34th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (less vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.

Which tracts in Central Berkeley have the highest eviction risk?

The highest-risk constituent tract in Central Berkeley is census tract 06001423000 (score 6.1/10). Across the 3 tracts in this neighborhood the score ranges from 5.3 to 6.1 — a spread of 0.8 points.

How safe is Central Berkeley for landlords?

Central Berkeley eviction risk carries a moderate-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (5.7/10). Pop-weighted across 3 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Berkeley as a whole (6.3/10), this neighborhood is lower-risk.

What is the demographic breakdown of Central Berkeley?

Central Berkeley has 11,391 residents (Diverse Neighborhood). Top groups: White (non-Hispanic) (57.2%), Asian (non-Hispanic) (17.9%), Other / Multiracial (9.8%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.

Nearby

Other neighborhoods near Central Berkeley

6.7 Downtown Berkeley 2 tracts · pop 5,046 5.6 North Berkeley 2 tracts · pop 6,447 5.4 Westbrae 2 tracts · pop 7,629 6.1 West Berkeley 2 tracts · pop 5,456 5.9 South Berkeley 2 tracts · pop 9,091 6.7 Northside 2 tracts · pop 5,390

Sibling neighborhoods

Other neighborhoods inside Berkeley

Same parent city, ranked by score similarity to Central Berkeley.

5.7 La Loma Park 1 tracts · pop 3,854 5.7 North Berkeley 2 tracts · pop 6,447 5.7 Ocean View 1 tracts · pop 3,200 5.6 Berkeley Hills 1 tracts · pop 4,064 5.6 Northbrae 1 tracts · pop 1,638 5.9 South Berkeley 2 tracts · pop 9,091

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