Living in Oakland, CA
Big city in California
Oakland is a big city in California, home to about 438,000 people, with 4.3 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, you can walk or take transit almost everywhere. Life moves at a very fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is Oakland a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 23 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Mild summers: highs around 72°F
- Easy flying: OAK is 4 mi away
- Lots of culture: museums, zoos and attractions nearby
👎 Cons
- Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $855k, and rent is $3,720 a month
- Higher crime: violent crime is 3.4× the US rate (FBI 2019)
- Higher taxes: about $3,279 state income tax per resident, 0.85% property tax
- Fewer family amenities than most places
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Oakland ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Oakland: common questions
What is the cost of living in Oakland?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $855k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $3,720 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 116, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Oakland?
California collects about $3,279 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.85% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Oakland safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (3.4× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Oakland?
Oakland has mild winters: winter days average around 61°F and summer days around 72°F.
Does Oakland get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is high, mainly from earthquakes and flooding: 7 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 3.23 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Oakland?
The nearest major airport is OAK, about 4 mi away.
How Oakland scores
Each bar compares Oakland with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Nearby
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Is Oakland right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.