Moving from Berkeley, CA to Lakewood, CO
It is 1251 mi between Berkeley and Lakewood — roughly 21h 30m of driving, plus rest stops and overnight, through 5 state(s). A long-haul move crosses climate zones and usually state-income-tax lines. This page assembles the federal and Zillow data into a side-by-side comparison so the differences are easy to scan.
1251 mi · 21h 30m by car · CO → WY → UT → NV → CA
Distance & route
| Route through | CO → WY → UT → NV → CA |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 80, I 25, US 287 |
| Major cities en route | Centennial, Denver, Aurora, Arvada, Thornton |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Berkeley | Lakewood | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 115.613 | 105.782 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 172.585 | 87.856 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 108.465 | 100.957 | 100.0 |
| Services | 194.718 | 146.919 | 100.0 |
Overall cost of living drops 8.5% moving from Berkeley to Lakewood — meaningful on rent but closer to parity on groceries.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Zillow ZHVI drops from $1,443,684 in Berkeley to $573,913 in Lakewood, a 8.5% decrease on the typical home value.
YoY change: Berkeley -1.2%, Lakewood -2.6%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Berkeley | Lakewood |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 59°F | 50°F |
| January avg low | 43°F | 21°F |
| July avg high | 74°F | 86°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 58.0" |
| Annual precipitation | 26.1" | 17.5" |
Annual temperature drops 8.1°F moving to Lakewood per NOAA normals.
Significant snow at the destination: Lakewood sees 58.0 in a year on NOAA normals — budget for winter gear and plowing.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: BERKELEY, CA US, LAKEWOOD, CO US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Berkeley | Lakewood |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 120,223 | 156,309 |
| Median household income | $108,558 | $85,789 |
| Median age | 32.9 | 38 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.4% | 29.1% |
| Avg household size | 2.57 | 2.26 |
Lakewood households earn about 8.5% less than Berkeley at the median — $108,558 → $85,789 on ACS 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in Lakewood MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 173,910 | $49,000 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 172,890 | $48,280 |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations | 164,250 | $84,370 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 140,150 | $36,010 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 129,510 | $45,350 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Moving between California and Colorado
State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Colorado's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation — state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.
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
- Mountain passes on I-70 west of Denver and on I-25 near Raton can close for snow November through April — check CDOT alerts before departure.
- I-80 across southern Wyoming frequently closes in winter storms November through April — check WYDOT 511 before departure.
- I-80 through Parleys Canyon and I-70 through the San Rafael Swell see winter closures; I-15 north of Salt Lake can slow in storms.
- I-80 east of Reno and US-50 across the Sierra can require chains in winter storms.
- 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
- You are moving to a much snowier climate — Lakewood averages 58.0 in annually vs 0.0 in at origin. Don't bury the winter gear in a hard-to-reach box.
- 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.
- Register to vote in Colorado after establishing residency.
Frequently asked
How does the job market in Lakewood compare to Berkeley?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $58,490 in the Lakewood MSA vs $72,050 in the Berkeley MSA, on total employment of 1,590,330 and 2,422,210 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
How far is Lakewood, CO from Berkeley, CA?
The driving distance is 1251 mi and the route typically takes 21h 30m via I 80 and I 25. The trip crosses 5 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
How does household income compare in Berkeley vs Lakewood?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $85,789 in Lakewood vs $108,558 in Berkeley — a 21.0% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
When is the best time to move from Berkeley to Lakewood?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1251 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
What is the climate difference between Berkeley and Lakewood?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 50.4°F in Lakewood vs 58.5°F in Berkeley (8.1°F colder). Annual snowfall: 58.0 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 17.5 in vs 26.1 in.
Is Lakewood more expensive than Berkeley?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Lakewood is 8.5% lower than Berkeley (105.782 vs 115.613, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How much do homes cost in Lakewood compared to Berkeley?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $573,913 in Lakewood vs $1,443,684 in Berkeley — a 60.2% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Berkeley.
City profiles: Berkeley, CA · Lakewood, CO.