Berkeley, MO

Census place 2904906 · pop 8,123

F31/ 100
💀 Bad
F
in MO
📍 Missouri ranks #26 of 50 states →
🏆 Cost$82,300 · top 1%
🚽 Crime2535/100k · bottom 1%
Taxes
1.54% property · US 0.99%8.44% sales · US 7.00%up to 4.70% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Violent crime rate2535/100k0

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

2535 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Property crime rate6524/100k1

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

6524 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Poverty rate35.1%1

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

35.1% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Adult smoking23.4%1

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

23.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Physical inactivity41.5%1

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

41.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Poor mental health21.6%3

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

21.6% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Population growth (5yr)-9.0%3

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-9.0% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Adult obesity44.9%4

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

44.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Median household income$44,2656

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$44,265 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Bachelor's degree or higher14.4%8

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

14.4% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level99/10016

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

99/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Homeownership52.8%20

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

52.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Uninsured adults13.5%23

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

13.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Property-tax burden1.54%25

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.54% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Broadband access91.4%49

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

91.4% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Income inequality0.4358

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.43 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.4%62

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

3.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Commute time21 min68

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

21 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Rent$1,337/mo80

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,337/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Housing cost$82,30099

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$82,300 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Not measured for Berkeley: Air, Bad air. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Berkeley, MO a good place to live?
By the numbers, Berkeley scores 31/100 — a F (Bad) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is housing cost and its weakest is violent crime rate. Missouri overall ranks #26 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Berkeley, MO?
Berkeley reports 2535 violent crimes per 100k and 6524 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Berkeley, MO expensive to live in?
Berkeley has a median home value of $82,300 and typical rent around $1,337/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Berkeley, MO?
Its weakest measured area is violent crime rate (2535/100k) — 0/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Berkeley, MO best at?
Its strongest measured area is housing cost ($82,300) — 99/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.