Moving from Berkeley, CA to Glendale, CA
It is a 372 mi drive, roughly 6h 55m, between Berkeley, CA and Glendale, CA. At mid-range distance you typically see real gaps open up on cost of living, home values, and climate — not just scenery. This page assembles the comparison from federal data sources and Zillow Research for a single-page view of the move.
372 mi · 6h 55m by car · CA
Distance & route
| Route through | CA |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 5, I 580, I 5 TRUCK |
| Major cities en route | Los Angeles, Torrance, Inglewood, Long Beach, Pomona |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Berkeley | Glendale | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 115.613 | 113.566 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 172.585 | 158.589 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 108.465 | 106.623 | 100.0 |
| Services | 194.718 | 170.433 | 100.0 |
Berkeley and Glendale sit within 5% on the overall BEA RPP — the composite diff is small, but rent or groceries alone may move more.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Homes in Glendale run about 1.8% cheaper — ZHVI $1,443,684 → $1,201,880 (2026-03).
YoY change: Berkeley -1.2%, Glendale -0.6%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Berkeley | Glendale |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 59°F | 65°F |
| January avg low | 43°F | 43°F |
| July avg high | 74°F | 86°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| Annual precipitation | 26.1" | 16.5" |
Annual temperature rises 6.0°F moving to Glendale per NOAA normals.
Snowfall is a non-factor at the destination: Glendale sees under an inch a year per NOAA normals.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: BERKELEY, CA US, BURBANK VALLEY PUMP PLT, CA US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Berkeley | Glendale |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 120,223 | 192,270 |
| Median household income | $108,558 | $84,262 |
| Median age | 32.9 | 41.4 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.4% | 28.7% |
| Avg household size | 2.57 | 2.63 |
Glendale households earn about 1.8% less than Berkeley at the median — $108,558 → $84,262 on ACS 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in Glendale MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 746,160 | $48,810 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 570,740 | $35,580 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 516,960 | $40,560 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 494,430 | $39,510 |
| Healthcare Support Occupations | 461,490 | $33,530 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Best time to move
Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.
To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.
Winter driving along this route
- Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.
State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.
Packing & arrival checklist
- Wildfire season in California typically peaks July through October — register for county emergency alerts during unpack.
- Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
- Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
Frequently asked
How does the job market in Glendale compare to Berkeley?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $50,490 in the Glendale MSA vs $72,050 in the Berkeley MSA, on total employment of 6,185,570 and 2,422,210 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
How does household income compare in Berkeley vs Glendale?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $84,262 in Glendale vs $108,558 in Berkeley — a 22.4% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
Is Glendale more expensive than Berkeley?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Glendale is 1.8% lower than Berkeley (113.566 vs 115.613, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How far is Glendale, CA from Berkeley, CA?
The driving distance is 372 mi and the route typically takes 6h 55m via I 5 and I 580. The trip crosses 1 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
How much do homes cost in Glendale compared to Berkeley?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $1,201,880 in Glendale vs $1,443,684 in Berkeley — a 16.7% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
What is the climate difference between Berkeley and Glendale?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 64.5°F in Glendale vs 58.5°F in Berkeley (6.0°F warmer). Annual snowfall: 0.0 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 16.5 in vs 26.1 in.
When is the best time to move from Berkeley to Glendale?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 372 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Berkeley.
City profiles: Berkeley, CA · Glendale, CA.