What it's like to live in Oakland Park
Oakland Park is a small city in Florida with unemployment below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Oakland Park deals with rent well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Low unemployment
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Crime above national average
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
How Oakland Park compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Oakland Park
Based on Oakland Park's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,608
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $72,160 a year
- 59% of Oakland Park renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$77,000
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $38,500
- Homes cost 5.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 28% above US
$1,804/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,804 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $385,000. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $385,000 · 59% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 19% below US
3.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.5%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 42% above US
565 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 3538/100k · Oakland Park Police Department · 2020 data
Getting aroundNear US average
26 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 25.5 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 61°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 23% below US
28% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 28%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary and 9 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Biscayne National Park (48 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Oakland Park's strongest point is unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,804/mo) equals 30% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Oakland Park
All Florida guides →Moving to Wilton Manors →
2 mi away · pop. 11,511
Rent $1,871/mo · Income $85,392
Compare with Oakland Park →Moving to Fort Lauderdale →
3 mi away · pop. 185,604
Rent $1,854/mo · Income $83,130
Compare with Oakland Park →Moving to Lauderdale Lakes →
3 mi away · pop. 36,404
Rent $1,663/mo · Income $50,006
Compare with Oakland Park →Moving to Lauderhill →
5 mi away · pop. 74,896
Rent $1,684/mo · Income $51,165
Compare with Oakland Park →Not sure Oakland Park is the one?
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