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Living in
Oakdale.
About
Life in Oakdale
If you're considering Oakdale, you're looking at a fairly typical suburban experience in the Twin Cities metro area—convenient to Saint Paul and the broader region with a reasonable 23-minute average commute. The job market is solid with an unemployment rate of 4.0%, and you've got major employers like 3M nearby, which has historically anchored the local economy. Housing runs around $318,000 for a median home and $1,480 for rent, reflecting the broader metro market; it's not cheap, but the median household income of $90,000 suggests most residents manage comfortably.
Oakdale at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.7%
Foreign-Born
10.9%
Broadband Internet
94.1%
of households
Population Growth
+8.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.9% foreign-born, most often from Laos
Who lives in Oakdale: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Oakdale, the largest foreign-born group is from Laos (13.0%), and 7.8% of residents speak Other Asian/Pacific at home.
Under 18
22.2%
of residents
65 and Older
17.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.4%
of households
Married Couples
45.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.45
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 16% above MN average
Rent, home values, and income in Oakdale
In Oakdale, rent runs 16% above the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,145
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
77.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1985
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $355,741 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MN
Unemployment in Oakdale and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Oakdale is close to the MN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Oakdale Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area
Commute23.5 min avg
How Oakdale residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Oakdale, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M 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 57% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Oakdale runs 57% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
141.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,418.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Oakdale Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 20 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
83.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Washington County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Washington County, which includes Oakdale, the most common type is winter storm, with 20 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 15 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 12 | Hail | None reported |
| 2021 | 5 | Lightning | $3,000 |
| 2020 | 9 | Winter Storm | $100,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Heavy Snow | $1.5M |
| 2018 | 10 | Winter Storm | $500 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Washington County, county-wide
Air Quality34 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Washington County, which includes Oakdale, is typically good.
Median AQI
34
Washington County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 12°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Oakdale has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 12°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
27°/12°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
33.8"
Annual Snowfall
40.4"
Hot Days/Year
8
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
154
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
102
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°F | 9°F | 0.48" |
| Feb | 29°F | 13°F | 0.52" |
| Mar | 42°F | 25°F | 1.43" |
| Apr | 57°F | 37°F | 2.58" |
| May | 69°F | 49°F | 3.97" |
| Jun | 79°F | 59°F | 4.63" |
| Jul | 83°F | 64°F | 3.97" |
| Aug | 80°F | 62°F | 4.10" |
| Sep | 72°F | 53°F | 3.08" |
| Oct | 58°F | 40°F | 2.47" |
| Nov | 42°F | 27°F | 1.32" |
| Dec | 29°F | 15°F | 0.65" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Oakdale
Uninsured
4.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Oakdale's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
M Health Fairview St John's Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.4 mi away · Maplewood
M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.8 mi away · Woodbury
Gillette Childrens Specialty Hospital
Childrens · 6.8 mi away · Saint Paul
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.
Education16.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Oakdale
Oakdale's student/teacher ratio is 16.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 35.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
35.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Oakdale (within 15 miles)
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
13.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 31,855 students · in-state tuition $18,482 · 83% graduate · median earnings $74,314 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 18,364 students · in-state tuition $14,328 · 32% graduate · median earnings $51,254 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 9,136 students · in-state tuition $13,140 · 33% graduate · median earnings $54,715 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,245 students · in-state tuition $56,460 · 78% graduate · median earnings $82,322 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 5,616 students · in-state tuition $10,382 · 58% graduate · median earnings $66,336 (10 yrs after entry)
Concordia University-Saint Paul
9.7 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 3,018 students · in-state tuition $26,400 · 62% graduate · median earnings $65,009 (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: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Oakdale
Oakdale has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
7 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
57 mi awayPublic Libraries in Oakdale
Oakdale Library
1010 Heron Avenue N, Oakdale
Cities Near Oakdale
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Oakdale?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Oakdale FAQ
Is Oakdale, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Oakdale's median rent is $1,481/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $93,772/year. Median home value is $318,100.
Is Oakdale, Minnesota safe?⌄
Oakdale's violent crime rate was 142 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1418 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Oakdale, Minnesota?⌄
Oakdale has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Oakdale, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Oakdale is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,481/month and median household income is $93,772/year. The median home value is $318,100. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Oakdale, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Oakdale is 24 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