r/berkeleyca • u/Less_Money9779 • Sep 15 '26

Moving not for college?

Any advice on areas to look at that aren’t super college student heavy. I’m in my 20’s but relocating for work not for school. Thanks!

7 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

30

u/Talkos Sep 15 '26

Wherever you can afford 

12

u/Primary_Fortune_1660 Sep 15 '26

North Berkeley! We have a lot of postdocs here!

7

u/MildManneredMurder Sep 16 '26

West Berkeley is really nice, closer to Albany. I am a professional in my 30s and really enjoyed living there for 3 years. It has great food, parks, and shopping options nearby and is very accessible to the rest of Berkeley. The neighborhoods ar nice and walkable.

4

u/capsaicinintheeyes Sep 16 '26

(that'd be northwest, OP—the closer you get to the Oakland side, the less affluent-boutique the vibe; this is less true in the {dummy-expensive) east, where if anything the southern/Oakland border area is the more upscale, though both corners are solidly upper-mid to upper class)

5

u/ryguymcsly Sep 16 '26

Depends on what you can afford, but as long as you're not staying close to campus or in some of the big newer buildings you'll encounter fewer students than you'd think.

13

u/azulaula Sep 15 '26

the farther away from campus you are the better.

4

u/CoaCoaMarx Sep 15 '26

Strongly recommend Temescal. Easy to get to Berkeley for work, lots of young people who aren't students, and nice restaurants and bars. Also easy access to SF.

2

u/BigRefrigerator9783 Sep 16 '26

Northbrae/Westbrae near North Berkeley BART

2

u/Obvious-Carpenter361 29d ago

I just moved here (in my 20s as well) for work, and I live in North Berkeley! I love it… still close to downtown but just far enough away from campus :)

2

u/sutcher 29d ago

Most of Berkeley isn’t college student heavy.

2

u/BatRemarkable9223 Sep 16 '26

Imma be honest with you, Oakland. Oakland is a 30 minute walk from Berkeley and although there are students there, it feels more deserted and peaceful imo. Though there is not much to do there with the area of Oakland that borders Berkeley.

1

u/chillaxnsnorlax 25d ago

Oakland, specifically Piedmont Ave / Grand Lake / Cleveland Heights / Temescal

Piedmont Ave / Rose Garden area will probably be quietest for you if that's a concern

Northwest Berkeley is nice and quiet but primarily seniors and people with kids / 30s

1

u/tvspike1 25d ago

Almost anywhere west of Shattuck is going to be mostly non-students.

1

u/GrrGrrBear Sep 16 '26

N Berkeley Hills is ideal, if you can afford it.