Berkeley Apartments and Rentals

Perhaps it is the city's unique, diverse character, or the fact that it is home to the oldest of the University of California campuses, but Berkeley, Calif., has a reputation it is proud to maintain. Located on the east shore of San Francisco Bay, the city maintains the same progressive attitude as its neighbors - something those looking for Berkeley apartments for rent are sure to fall in love with.

Despite its big reputation, Berkeley remains relatively small, with about 112,580 residents. The University of California, Berkeley is a large presence in the city, with about 36,142 students enrolled in fall 2011. The student involvement in much of the activism of the 1960s defined Berkeley as a deeply liberal city, a reputation it still has today. In 2005, a nationwide survey by the nonpartisan Bay Area Center for Voting Research ranked Berkeley as the no. 3 more liberal city in America.

Although the activism of the 1960s is very much a part of Berkeley's history, the city was founded by Europeans in the late 18th century, and the Huichin people inhabited it for many years earlier. The city really began to grow when the campus of the University of California was established in 1873, creating a community that was destined to be the city's driving economic and social force.

Indeed it did become that, and still is today. In addition to its role in molding Berkeley as a Mecca of counter-culture in the '60s, the University of California, Berkeley currently employs nearly 20 percent of the city's workers. The liberal attitudes that have long defined Berkeley make it an attractive place to live and work, but the long list of recreational and entertainment opportunities don't hurt, either. In fact, is known for its fine dining and eateries, with one whole neighborhood called the "Gourmet Ghetto."

The major source of employment and education in Berkeley is the University of California, Berkeley. Founded just after the Gold Rush, the flagship campus has played a major role in the history of science and society. The faculty at Berkeley are responsible for a range of discoveries and social movements, from the discoveries of vitamin E and K, earthquake science and the flu vaccine to the inventions of the wetsuit and no-fault divorce. To date, 22 UC Berkeley faculty members have won Nobel Awards.

The tens of thousands of students who attend classes at UC Berkeley can choose from 14 colleges and schools, offering hundreds of areas of study. As for children, there are 12 elementary schools, three middle schools and one large high school in the Berkeley Unified School District, plus 19 private institutions.

In addition to employment opportunities in academia and other careers within the university, those looking for rentals in Berkeley may also find work in science and medicine fields, given that the second and third largest employers in 2009 were Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Alta Bates Summit Medical Center. The City of Berkeley and Bayer Corporation also employ a large number of citizens.

The fact that the area is largely student-centered is a good and a bad thing for those looking for apartments in Berkeley. The city boasts a wide array of options, but renters can expect to compete with students for housing. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median gross rent was $1,270 in 2010, with housing in a variety of distinct neighborhoods.

Berkeley is known as a hub for local and organic foods in Northern California, and its open-air farmers markets - offered in a variety of neighborhoods three days a week - help residents eat healthy and buy local. The downtown area offers plenty of art galleries, museums and performing arts centers, and is known for its local artist community.

Berkeley residents enjoy a wide range of activities as well, whether flying kites at Cesar Chavez Park in West Berkeley or exploring the Habitot Children's Discovery Museum downtown. The student population makes it easy to find plenty of microbrew pubs and live music venues, and the plethora of parks in Berkeley and the surrounding areas have plentiful opportunities to hike, bike, rock climb, fish or simply enjoy the great outdoors.

Sports enthusiasts can catch an Oakland Raiders or San Francisco 49ers game, while music lovers may want to check out annual music festivals like the Downtown Berkeley Music Fest, Berkeley World Music Festival or the Berkeley Old Time Music Convention.

To find a Berkeley apartment or rental, check out our apartment listings. Rent.com® is happy to help you find your next home.