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Living in
Oak Park.
About
Life in Oak Park
Living in Oak Park means being close to Detroit without being in it — you get urban density and diversity with easier car access to the wider region. The median commute is about 22 minutes, and major freeways run right through the city, making it convenient for work across the metro area. Housing is relatively affordable compared to many Michigan suburbs, with median home values around $212,300 and rentals averaging $1,354 monthly; the unemployment rate sits at 3.6%, which is solid.
Oak Park at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Foreign-Born
8.3%
Broadband Internet
92.5%
of households
Population Growth
-1.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.3% foreign-born, most often from Iraq
Who lives in Oak Park: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Oak Park, the largest foreign-born group is from Iraq (13.9%), and 3.3% of residents speak Russian/Slavic at home.
Under 18
19.4%
of residents
65 and Older
17.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.0%
of households
Married Couples
30.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.35
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 24% above MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Oak Park
In Oak Park, rent runs 24% above the MI average, and home values are 8% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,839
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1958
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $231,276 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 3.1 pts above MI average
Unemployment in Oak Park and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Oak Park is 3.1 percentage points higher than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Oak Park Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area
Commute23.3 min avg
How Oak Park residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Oak Park, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 67% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 10% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Oak Park runs 10% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
296.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,718.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Oak Park Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Oakland County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Oakland County, which includes Oak Park, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $40,500 |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18.0M |
| 2022 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $85,000 |
| 2021 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $17.9M |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2019 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2018 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11.0M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Oakland County, county-wide
Oak Park is about 2% of Oakland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Oakland County, which includes Oak Park, is typically good — 242 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
242
per year
Moderate Days
99
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Oakland County, county-wide
Oak Park is about 2% of Oakland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Oak Park has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
34.9"
Annual Snowfall
36.0"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
125
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
129
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 19°F | 2.07" |
| Feb | 36°F | 20°F | 2.06" |
| Mar | 46°F | 27°F | 2.50" |
| Apr | 59°F | 37°F | 3.23" |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 3.69" |
| Jun | 79°F | 59°F | 3.67" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 3.39" |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 3.51" |
| Sep | 75°F | 55°F | 3.04" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 2.76" |
| Nov | 49°F | 33°F | 2.62" |
| Dec | 37°F | 25°F | 2.35" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Oak Park
Uninsured
3.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Oak Park's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Surgeons Choice Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 1.2 mi away · Southfield
Ascension Providence Hospital, Southfield and Novi
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.2 mi away · Southfield
Henry Ford Health Behavioral Health Hospital
Psychiatric · 1.7 mi away · Ferndale
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Oak Park
Oak Park's student/teacher ratio is 17.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 37.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
37.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Oak Park (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 15,587 students · in-state tuition $15,862 · 61% graduate · median earnings $59,525 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 13,876 students · in-state tuition $3,745 · 18% graduate · median earnings $44,976 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 12,748 students · in-state tuition $3,220 · 31% graduate · median earnings $40,666 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 12,351 students · in-state tuition $16,176 · 63% graduate · median earnings $63,565 (10 yrs after entry)
Schoolcraft Community College District
13.1 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 7,511 students · in-state tuition $4,736 · 20% graduate · median earnings $45,652 (10 yrs after entry)
Wayne County Community College District
11.5 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 7,423 students · in-state tuition $3,112 · 20% graduate · median earnings $34,732 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: River Raisin National Battlefield Park, 39 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Oak Park
Oak Park has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (39 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
39 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
59 mi awayPublic Libraries in Oak Park
Oak Park Public Library
14200 Oak Park Boulevard, Oak Park
Cities Near Oak Park
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Oak Park?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Oak Park FAQ
Is Oak Park, Michigan affordable?⌄
Oak Park's median rent is $1,396/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $71,510/year. Median home value is $212,300.
Is Oak Park, Michigan safe?⌄
Oak Park's violent crime rate was 296 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1719 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Oak Park, Michigan?⌄
Oak Park has an unemployment rate of 8.3%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Oak Park, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Oak Park is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,396/month and median household income is $71,510/year. The median home value is $212,300. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Oak Park, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Oak Park is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from