Neighborhood · Berkeley, CA

West Berkeley Eviction Risk: Elevated

2 census tracts · pop 5,456 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 6.1/10 · range 6.0–6.1

West Berkeley is a white-hispanic neighborhood in Berkeley with 2 census tracts and a population of 5,456 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 6.1/10 (Elevated tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 55% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 27% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Median gross rent of $2,551/month sits 20% higher than the Berkeley citywide median ($2,133).

Risk score

6.1

Elevated

2 tracts · population-weighted

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

% of income on rent

55.2% +62%

Berkeley: 34.0%

Average gross rent

$2,551 +20%

Berkeley: $2,133

Average HH income

$103,177 -5%

Berkeley: $108,558

Poverty rate

11.4% -32%

Berkeley: 16.8%

Renter share

73.1% +31%

Berkeley: 55.8%

Peer neighborhoods

Neighborhoods with similar eviction risk

Same county, closest by Eviction Risk Score.

Geographic context

Risk heat across West Berkeley and the region

Click any tract to drill in · 2 tracts span score 6.0–6.1

Why West Berkeley scores 6.1

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

55% 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

73% 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

11.4% below poverty line · Range 1.6–3.9 across tracts

2.9

Supply constraint

Rent-to-FMR gap & zoning friction · Range 2.4–7.1 across tracts

4.5

Risk score comparison

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

Eviction Risk Score (0–10 scale).

Census tracts

2 tracts in West Berkeley

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

Tract↕	Score↕	Pop↕	% over 30% on rent↕	Average rent↕
06001423200	6.1	3,003	58%	$1,975
06001422000	6.0	2,453	52%	$3,257

Social Vulnerability Index

CDC SVI percentile: 56

Pop-weighted across 2 tracts. Higher = more vulnerable to disaster, displacement, and rent shocks. Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022.

Socioeconomic status 33%ile

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

Household characteristics 35%ile

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

Racial/ethnic minority 70%ile

Hispanic + non-white share of population

Housing & transport 86%ile

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

CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted

Eviction-adjacent indicators in West Berkeley

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

12.8%Housing insecurity
7.2%Utility shutoff threat
14.0%Food insecurity
13.1%SNAP enrollment
6.8%No health insurance
26.0%Any disability

Frequently asked

About West Berkeley

What is the eviction-risk score for West Berkeley?

West Berkeley scores 6.1/10 (Elevated tier) across 2 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 West Berkeley compare to Berkeley overall?

West Berkeley scores 0.2 points lower than Berkeley overall (6.3/10). Renters spend 55% of income on rent vs 34% citywide. Median rent: $2,551 vs $2,133.

What is the average rent in West Berkeley?

Median gross rent in West Berkeley eviction risk is $2,551/month (pop-weighted across 2 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 55% of renter households are cost-burdened.

What percentage of West Berkeley residents are renters?

73% of West Berkeley households are renter-occupied (vs 56% in Berkeley). The neighborhood has 5,456 residents.

Is West Berkeley a high social-vulnerability area?

West Berkeley sits in the 56th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (moderately vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.

Which tracts in West Berkeley have the highest eviction risk?

The highest-risk constituent tract in West Berkeley is census tract 06001423200 (score 6.1/10). Across the 2 tracts in this neighborhood the score ranges from 6.0 to 6.1 — a spread of 0.1 points.

How safe is West Berkeley for landlords?

West Berkeley eviction risk carries a elevated-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (6.1/10). Pop-weighted across 2 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 in line with the citywide level.

What is the demographic breakdown of West Berkeley?

West Berkeley has 5,220 residents (White-Hispanic Neighborhood). Top groups: White (non-Hispanic) (45.9%), Hispanic / Latino (21.3%), Asian (non-Hispanic) (13.1%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.

Nearby

Other neighborhoods near West Berkeley

5.7 Central Berkeley 3 tracts · pop 11,396 5.9 South Berkeley 2 tracts · pop 9,091 5.4 Westbrae 2 tracts · pop 7,629 5.9 Golden Gate 5 tracts · pop 16,005 6.1 Lorin 4 tracts · pop 14,596 6.7 Downtown Berkeley 2 tracts · pop 5,046

Sibling neighborhoods

Other neighborhoods inside Berkeley

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

6.1 Poets Corner 1 tracts · pop 4,275 6.1 Elmwood 3 tracts · pop 7,856 6.0 San Pablo Park 1 tracts · pop 3,476 6.2 Panoramic Hill 2 tracts · pop 8,072 6.2 Lorin 4 tracts · pop 14,596 5.9 South Berkeley 2 tracts · pop 9,091

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