The Town FilesBerkeley, Missouri
City in St. Louis County · population 8,228 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $82,300
- Household income
- $44,265
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 49
- Median age
- 28.0
Berkeley is a city of 8,228 people in St. Louis County, Missouri. The median home is worth $82,300, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 95% of Missouri towns, better transit than 95% of Missouri towns.
How Berkeley ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Berkeley is worth $82,300, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $44,265, which is more affordable than 86% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $1,074 a month. 52.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Berkeley | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $82,300 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $1,074 | $855 |
| Median household income | $44,265 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 52.8% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Berkeley
| People | Berkeley | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.0 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 33.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 35.1% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.2% | — |
| Work from home | 20.1% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.4% | 88.7% |
Weather in Berkeley
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 23.8°F. About 41.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.6 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 85 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
49 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berkeley since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 20 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 22, 2011 about 0.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 29 deaths and 662 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 265 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 25, 2011.
Severe weather in St. Louis County since 1996
St. Louis County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 9, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4877: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4867: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires |
| August 8, 2022 | Flood | DR-4665: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in St. Louis County
St. Louis County had 596,676 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,926 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Berkeley itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Berkeley
2 public schools with 586 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BERKELEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-5 | 365 | 14.6 |
| HOLMAN ELEMENTARY | PK-2 | 221 | 13.8 |
Towns near Berkeley
- Woodson Terrace, MO1.8 mi · 3,950 people · home $104,000
- Ferguson, MO2.2 mi · 18,527 people · home $109,900
- St. John, MO2.2 mi · 6,643 people · home $106,300
- Breckenridge Hills, MO2.7 mi · 4,458 people · home $96,100
- St. Ann, MO3.1 mi · 13,019 people · home $126,600
- Dellwood, MO3.3 mi · 4,914 people · home $83,700
- Normandy, MO3.3 mi · 4,287 people · home $87,300
- Florissant, MO3.7 mi · 52,533 people · home $148,800
Berkeley questions
Is Berkeley, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Berkeley scores better for retirees than 4% of Missouri towns and quieter than 12%. 12.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.0).
How much does a house cost in Berkeley?
The median owner-occupied home in Berkeley is valued at $82,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,265, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $1,074 a month.
What is the weather like in Berkeley?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 23.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.7 inches of precipitation a year and 16.6 inches of snow.
Does Berkeley get tornadoes?
49 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Berkeley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 22, 2011. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)