oakland
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Stunning beaches, warm weather, and a thriving sense of community – Oakland has many reasons for you to pick as your next moving destination. The largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, Oakland, California is a city with its character.

Oakland promises a diverse and unique living experience and is also a famous trade center in California, which means relocating here is not a bad idea. 

But when you are required to make a call on relocation, you need to analyze many factors including the cost of living economy, home rental, education, safety, healthcare, education, and much more.

Our Oakland moving guide is for you. It discusses everything related to Oakland. This means that once you are through our guide, you’ll be the best to answer every query related to the city.

Without wasting much time, let’s delve into the Oakland details.

QuickFacts

Quick Facts About Oakland, CA

Learn some facts about Oakland, CA before moving to the city to help you decide if it's the right place for you.

What's the Population of Oakland, CA?

  • Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay.
  • The city got its name due to the plentiful oak trees in the 18th century.
  • It is a major trade center and has the busiest port in Northern California.
  • Oakland celebrates pride in a big way.
  • The city is highly diverse in population.
  • Oakland has a temperate climate.
  • Property crime is a major concern.
  • Oakland has a thriving art scene.
  • The nightlife in Oakland is electrifying.
  • The tech industry is big and pays well in Oakland.

Top 10 things to know before moving to Oakland 

  • The city is centrally located and has easy access to San Francisco and Marin.
  • Oakland has plenty of green spaces.
  • The public transport system is good.
  • Finding a parking spot is challenging in the city.
  • There are plenty of outdoor activities available.
  • Oakland is more affordable than San Francisco.
  • Oakland is a foodie destination.
  • The quality of education is higher.
  • Jobs are plentiful in Oakland.
  • The economy is diverse.

Tip: When you’ve got a home to move in Oakland, CA, getting the best moving quote will be your goal.Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.

How Is the Weather Like in Oakland?

Oakland is a sunny city! The city experiences 299 sunny days per year. The national average is 205 sunny days:

Here's a summary of the weather in Oakland using data from Best Places and Weather Spark:

  • The city is centrally located and has easy access to San Francisco and Marin.
  • Oakland has plenty of green spaces.
  • The public transport system is good.
  • Finding a parking spot is challenging in the city.
  • There are plenty of outdoor activities available.
  • Oakland is more affordable than San Francisco.
  • Oakland is a foodie destination.
  • The quality of education is higher.
  • Jobs are plentiful in Oakland.
  • The economy is diverse.

Is Oakland, CA a Good Place to Live?

Oakland offers pleasant weather, a thriving job market, amCAing nightlife, and good infrastructure, making it one of the best places to live in California.

Is Oakland Cheaper Than San Francisco?

Oakland is 10% cheaper than San Francisco. It requires around $9,003.2 to maintain the same standard of living as $8,600.0 in Oakland.

Population of Oakland, CA

As per the latest census, Oakland has a population of 437,548 and the density is 7,602 people per square mile. The median age here is 36.9 and the demographic is highly diverse. The city population has declined in recent years. Oakland has one of the highest concentrations of Asian population, which is 15.9%.

To know the population better, here are a few stats.

  • Total population: 437,548
  • Gender distribution: 48.6% males, 51.4% females
  • Median age: 36.9
  • Ethnic composition: 27.3% White, 23.6% Black, 15.8% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 5.0% two or more races
  • Hispanic ethnicity: 27.0%
  • Median household size: 2.5 persons
  • Married couples: 41.1%
  • Single residents with children: 23.6%

Commute Time to Oakland, CA

Commute time in Oakland is 31.9 minutes, with residents spending an average of 131.9 minutes on the road. Modes of commuting:

  • Drive alone: 87.9%
  • Carpool: 7.6%
  • Work from home: 2.5%
  • Mass transit: 0.1%

Weather in Oakland, CA

  • Average rainfall: 24 inches per year
  • Average snowfall: 0 inches per year
  • Sunny days: 261 days per year
  • Precipitation days: 67 days per year
Reasons

Top 10 Reasons To Move To Oakland, CA

Here are the top reasons to move to Oakland, CA:

  • More affordability
  • Good climate
  • Racial diversity
  • Good schooling options
  • Robust public transport system
  • Plenty of open places
  • More fun activities
pros and cons

Pros & Cons of moving to Oakland

While you are serious about relocating to Oakland, you need to gauge both the positives and negatives of the city. This will help you know whether you are moving to the right place. To help you, we’ve got the best and worst of Oakland. Take a look at both to analyze whether moving here is a good decision for you.

Here are the pros and cons of living in Oakland, CA:

The pros
  • Diverse population
  • Low cost of living
  • Low rent
  • More open places
  • Thriving nightlife
  • Good food scene
  • Booming economy
  • More jobs
The cons
  • High crime rate
  • No snow
  • Heavy traffic
  • High poverty rate
  • Water scarcity
  • More natural disasters
Neighborhoods

Best Neighborhoods in Oakland

If you are moving to Oakland with your family, your priority would be to find a home in a decent neighborhood. Fortunately, the city has many decent neighborhoods to rent or buy a house. To help you, we’ve filtered out the best places to live here.

Here are the 10 best neighborhoods in Oakland to rent or buy a house.

Neighborhoods Place Population Median Home Value Median Income
1 Rockridge $1,653,577 $2,389
2 Montclair $1,452,844 $2,092
3 Timescal $1,044,122 $2,495
4 Glenview $1,114,155 $2,152
5 Grand Lake $672,075 $1,750
6 Piedmont Avenue $899,422 $2,799
7 Adams Point $593,006 $2,095
8 Trestle Glen $1,494,869 $2,200
9 Diamond District $663,386 $3,148
10 Jack London Square $945,000 $2,905
cost of living

Cost of Living in Oakland

Despite being a part of the San Francisco Bay Area, Oakland is much more affordable than San Francisco. As a reason, most people pick Oakland as their home. However, the city may seem expensive than many California cities but your income is also higher in Oakland

Here is a break-up of the cost of living in Oakland.

Living Expense Eugene Oregon National Average
Overall 195.5 149.9 100
Grocery 111.3 105.1 100
Health 116.8 98.3 100
Housing 316.6 234.8 100
Median home cost $819,500 $73,500 $338,100
Utilities 90.3 102.4 100
Transportation 125.8 133.1 100
Miscellaneous 158.5 118.7 100

How is the job market in Oakland, CA?

Oakland has one of the strongest economies in the US and this contributes to the job sector. If you are moving here for job reasons, you have got brighter chances here to get one. The jobs have increased by 1.4% in the last year. Technology, transport, tourism, and healthcare are major areas where you can apply for a job.

And we’ve got a few job-related facts in Oakland, which may benefit you.

  • The job growth in Oakland has been positive.
  • The future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 35.3%.
  • The unemployment rate here is 7.7%.
  • Jobs have increased by 1.4% over the past year.
  • The average salary in Oakland is $85,628.
  • The median home cost in Oakland is $819,500.

Here’s a table that shows a simple breakdown of Oakland’s job market:

Employment Information Oakland United States
Income per Cap $49,970 $37,638
Household Income $85,628 $69,021
Unemployment Rate 7.7 6
Recent Job Growth -9.0% -6.2%
Future Job Growth 35.3% 33.51%

Fastest growing jobs in Oakland, CA

Oakland’s booming economy also brings in plenty of jobs. With many offices and companies within the boundaries, you’ve higher chances of getting a good job with a decent package. Our experts have made a list of the 10 fastest-growing jobs in Oakland.

Here are the top 10 fastest-growing jobs in Oakland.

Rank Job Title % Growth Average salary
1 Wind turbine technician 167.8% $69,480
2 Web developer 161.6% $89,248
3 Statistician 159.1% $91,120
4 Cartographer 147.1% $83,886
5 Software developer 143.1% $130,240
6 Operations analyst 137.5% $93,433
7 Biomedical engineer 129.0% $98,230
8 Insulation installer 127.3% $59,866
9 Nurse practitioner 121.4% $133,560
10 Business analyst 120.4% $107,509

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What are the top career options in Oakland, CA

You’ll find lots of jobs to choose from if you’re moving to Oakland. Which ones should you opt fCA You may be interested in some of the city’s highest-paying jobs. The following is the list of the highest-paying jobs in the city if you’re moving to Oakland, OR:

Rank Job Title Average Salary Entry level salary
1 Psychiatrist $272,519 $155,000
2 Group creative director $256,109 $137,000
3 Clinical sciences professor $245,776 $133,000
4 Chief medical officer $241,957 $152,000
5 Medical director $241,874 $156,000
6 Vice president / managing director $238,673 $146,000
7 Physician $231,558 $127,000
8 Internal medicine physician $220,021 $131,000
9 Senior director/product $216,549 $156,000
10 College president $199,642 $106,000

Major Industries in Oakland

Oakland is a booming city with a prominent trade history. Since the 19th century, the city has been a trade hub, and that continues even today. The proximity to San Francisco has contributed to the IT business and technology is a major source of jobs here. Moving here for a job is a good idea and it is natural to be curious about the major industries here. Knowing this, we’ve listed them out for you.

  • Technology
  • Tourism
  • Transport
  • Healthcare

Best Companies to Work for in Oakland, CA

We all love working at companies that maintain outstanding employee relationships. And this matters in Oakland as well. You are lucky that Oakland has many decent organizations that take pride in being employee-friendly in nature. We’ve got a list of the top 10 among them. Go through the best companies that will help you tweak the search list while you are looking for a job in Oakland. 

Here’s our best company list.

  • The Clorox Company
  • Blue Shield of California
  • The Permanente Medical Group
  • Alameda County
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • Port of Oakland
  • e.l.f. Cosmetics
  • Aspire Public Schools
  • BrightSource Energy, Inc.
  • Sierra Club

Average Salary & Income in Oakland, CA

Salary is a major factor that decides whether the place is good to live in. You need to have an idea about the salary in Oakland before you make a call on moving. In Oakland, companies pay well, especially tech companies. The average salary here is $85,628 and anything above $80k is good enough to comfortably live. 

Here are a few informative points related to the average salary and income in Oakland.

  • Oakland’s average annual pay for average jobs is $85,628 a year
  • Oakland’s average hourly pay for average jobs is $32 an hour
  • Oakland’s average weekly pay for average jobs is $1,020 per week
  • Oakland’s average monthly pay for average jobs is $5583 per month
  • Oakland’s top earners (90th percentile) make $151,000 annually

Oakland housing market, CA?

An average house in Oakland costs $819,500, which may be more expensive than most cities. However, you’ll be surprised to know that the home prices here are much lower than in San Francisco, one of the major cities in California. Your income will also be higher here than in most US cities, and that means the home price will not require you to rob a bank.

  • Oakland’s median home cost is $819,500.
  • The median age of Oakland’s real estate is 66 years old.
  • The city’s home appreciation in the last 10 years has been 133.5%.
  • Renters make up 54.8% of the Oakland population.
  • About 2.4% of houses and apartments in Oakland are available to rent.

Average Rental Prices in Oakland, California

Once you are in Oakland, the initial days will mostly be in rented homes, and having an idea about the home rentals will be a good idea. The home rentals in Oakland may seem to be highly expensive but your salary will also be higher here. We’ve researched the average home rental in the city and the details may help you. 

  • Oakland’s average rent for a studio apartment is $1,530
  • Oakland’s average rent for a 1-bedroom home or apartment is $1,820
  • Oakland’s average rent for a 2-bedroom home or apartment is $2,220
  • Oakland’s average rent for a 3-bedroom home or apartment is $2,900
  • Oakland’s average rent for a 4-bedroom home or apartment is $3,420

What are taxes like in Oakland, CA? 

Taxes play a major role in your income and your takeaway is determined greatly by the cuts authorities make. While you are deciding to pack the bags to Oakland, it is a good idea to know the taxes here. Our experts have collated the different tax-related facts.  

  • The sales tax rate for Oakland is 9.3%. The US average is 7.3%.
  • The income tax rate for Oakland is 9.3%. The US average is 4.6%.
  • The average property tax rate in Oakland is 0.71%.

What are the best things to do in Oakland, California?

 

While living in Oakland, you can be sure of having fun every weekend as the city is packed with many activities, both indoor and outdoor.:

We’ve got a list of the 10 best things to do in Oakland.

  • Visit the Indigenous Red Market
  • Pay homage to the bust of Huey P. Newton
  • Take a Black Food Tour
  • Study history at Oakland Museum of California
  • Explore Redwood Regional Park
  • Spend time at Oakland Zoo
  • Take a look at the USS Potomac
  • Walk through Jack London Square
  • Catch a show at Paramount Theater Oakland
  • Visit Mountain View Cemetery

How Safe is Oakland, CA?

Safety is a major concern when you relocate to a new place and when your new destination is Oakland, you need to know that the city records a higher crime rate than the US average. The city has a violent crime rate of 75.5, which is three times higher than the US average of 22.7. Even property crime is a major concern here. Only 49% of the residents feel safe here. 

To help you know the crime stats in Oakland, we’ve got a few facts.

  • The violent crime rate in Oakland is 75.5 while the US average is 22.7.
  • The city’s property crime is 81.2 while the US average is 35.4.
  • Your chance of being a violent crime victim here is 1 in 65.
  • Your chance of being a property crime victim is 1 in 15 in Oakland.
  • About 49% of Oakland’s population feels safe in the city.

Tip:Often, you feel like calculating the moving cost before you connect with a moving company. To help you, we've got a free moving cost calculator.

School

What are the top schools in Oakland, CA?

When you are moving to Oakland with the family, you may be concerned about your child’s studies. However, you will be relieved to know that the city has many good schools within the city boundaries. And we’ve collated the best ones here. .

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