What it's like to live in Emeryville
Emeryville is a small city in California with household incomes running above the national average and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Emeryville deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, and commute times longer than most cities.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
How Emeryville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Emeryville
Based on Emeryville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$5,872
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $117,440 a year
- 48% of Emeryville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$120,960
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $60,480
- Homes cost 5.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 108% above US
$2,936/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,936 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $604,800. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $604,800 · 48% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.7% county unemployment
Unemployment in Alameda County is 4.7%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Alameda County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 133% above US
769 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 9523/100k · Emeryville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 11% above US
29 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 28.9 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 4 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% take public transit; 37% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 74°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 44°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 96% above US
71% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park (6 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Emeryville's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,936/mo) equals 30% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (37% of workers here already work from home) and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Emeryville
All California guides →Moving to Berkeley →
2 mi away · pop. 120,257
Rent $2,133/mo · Income $108,092
Compare with Emeryville →Moving to Piedmont →
4 mi away · pop. 10,945
Rent $3,500+/mo · Income $250,000+
Compare with Emeryville →Not sure Emeryville is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.